The Sarawak Shell Bintulu Plant ( SSBP ) , formerly known as Bintulu Crude Oil Terminal ( BCOT ) , was established in 1979 . It consists of three crude oil storage tanks , each with a capacity of 410 @,@ 000 barrels . It has three major areas of operation : Crude Oil Operations , Condensate Stabilisation , and Gas Sales Facilities . Royal Dutch Shell started to establish the world 's first Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis plant ( Shell MDS ) in 1993 . It is also known as Bintulu Gas @-@ To @-@ Liquid plant ( Bintulu GTL ) . The plant has a production capacity of 14 @,@ 770 barrels per day with a total investment of over US $ 1 billion as of the year 2010 . The plant is staffed with 380 people , of whom 93 % are Malaysians , with 80 % of the staff coming from Sarawak .