KUCHING, Aug 6 — The state government is studying the possibility of using slag, a by-product from the smelting and refining of ore, in future road construction, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said today.

He said he observed that the Land Development Department Construction Management Division of Chiba Prefecture, Japan, was using slag in road construction.

"In the prefecture, the use of slag, within a 40km radius of a steel factory, was incorporated in its road construction,” Uggah said in a statement issued after a recent visit to Japan.

He led a delegation from the state Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development on the official visit.

Uggah, who is also the state minister of infrastructure and port development, said Chiba Prefecture has many years of experience in road development, in particular using recycled industrial by-products.

He described the usage of slag for road construction, in line with the practices followed by Chiba Prefecture under the specifications of the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) A 5015, as a very interesting development.

"In Sarawak, slag is being produced by ferroalloy industries at the Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu amounting to 100,000 tonnes per annum and is classified as waste product.

"So we are here to understand the process of the slag application, its suitability, durability and safety.

"We also want to know the comparative advantages in cost savings in aggregates and others towards a more sustainable future.

"This is in line with our Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) aspiration in achieving a 100 per cent rural road connectivity,” Uggah said.

While there, the Sarawak delegation was also briefed on how the steel slag was used, besides the guidelines for such usage and disposal.