Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 12 for the 300 MW Nenggiri Hydroelectric Project.
Clean generation from the plant — in Kelantan, the northeastern state of the Malay Peninsula — will avoid 355,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the operation of heat plants (fossil fuels), TNB said. Its implementation helps the government toward its target of 31% of renewable energy capacity in the electricity supply by 2025 and 40% by 2035. TNB supports this initiative through its 2050 Sustainability Roadmap (TNB Sustainability Pathway 2050) with a net, parallel zero carbon emission target and a commitment to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda.
The MYR5 billion project ($1.1 billion) is scheduled to be complete in 2026. In addition to important electricity generation, the facility will reduce the impact of floods and droughts and stimulate a variety of economic activities beyond the local community, according to a release. To assist with flood control, the project has a main reservoir with an area of 53.84 km2 and a flow-regulator pool of 0.97 km2. Before the monsoon season, TNB will lower the water level in the main reservoir to provide ample rainwater storage space.
The project will also provide clean water supply and irrigation improvements for agriculture, TNB said.
The project implementation agreement was signed between the Kelantan State Government and TNB Power Generation Sdn. Bhd. (TNB Genco), a wholly-owned subsidiary of TNB, in August 2021. TNBPG Hydro Nenggiri Sdn. Bhd. (THNSB), a special purpose vehicle and wholly owned subsidiary of TNB Genco, will develop the project. In December 2021, ANDRITZ, as part of a consortium, signed a contract with THNSB to supply electro- and hydro-mechanical equipment for the project.
Work at the project site, about 30 km from the town of Gua Musang, started March 1, 2022. THNSB will complete the project within 52 months.
The project is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 by The United Nations, TNB said. This can be attributed to the resettlement of the Orang Asli community at the project site, with facilities such as clean water supply, electricity, sewage treatment system, driveways, clinics, multipurpose halls, school complexes, shop houses, sports facilities and recreation. The project also has the potential to be an economic entity that creates jobs and local businesses in various fields such as construction, food and retail, as well as new industries such as eco-tourism and aquaculture.