Two New Hydroelectric Dams to Meet Power Needs

TENAGA Nasional Bhd (TNB) will build two new hydroelectric power plants in Ulu Jelai, Pahang, and Ulu Kenyir, Terengganu, next year.

It will be part of a RM3 billion investment that the state-owned utility company has planned for the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

TNB chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said in Kuantan yesterday that construction will begin before July at an estimated cost of RM2.5 billion.

The power plants are expected to be completed in 2013 and have a combined capacity of 600 megawatts.

“We have no alternatives as oil and gas prices have increased and supplies are depleting.

“We must implement these projects to fulfil the increasing demand for power,” he said after the opening of Wisma TNB Kuantan by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang.

Present were Tengku Mahkota Tengku Abdullah, TNB chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

Che Khalib said a hydroelectric power plant would also be built in Kelantan soon.

He also said TNB would introduce a power plant that combined four sources – solar, wind, diesel and hydro – in Tioman to help reduce pollution from the present diesel-powered plant. “It will be the first in the world,” he said.

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