Tenom Pangi Hydropower Station Set to Be Fully Operational by Year-End – Madius Tangau
Lahad Datu (Nov 22) – Sabah Electricity Chairman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has announced that the Tenom Pangi Hydroelectric Power Station (SJHTP) is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year, with a total generation capacity of up to 66 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
The power station, which currently operates with two turbines, will see its third turbine fully online by year-end. This development is a significant step toward boosting the state’s power supply.
“Once fully operational, we anticipate an increase in the electricity reserve margin to around 25 percent by mid-2025, likely in June or July,” Madius told Bernama during a working visit to the Sabah Electricity office.
He further acknowledged that the state’s current electricity reserve margin is alarmingly low at just five percent, which has led to power outages and load-shedding measures when equipment malfunctions occur.
To address this issue, Sabah Electricity is working on several initiatives to increase the reserve margin, including the 100MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Lahad Datu and an additional 100MW gas-powered plant in Kimanis.
Madius also discussed electricity supply challenges on Sabah’s east coast. While the region’s power generation is nearing 300MW, the supply is reliant on a transmission line from the west coast, which has proven vulnerable to disruptions.
He emphasized the importance of expanding the transmission network, specifically the need for a second transmission line from Sipitang to Tawau, known as the “Southern Line,” which would span approximately 300 kilometers and help stabilize the region’s power supply.
– AsiaNewsToday
