SEBERANG JAYA: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) today launched a RM500 million electricity supply strengthening project in Penang.
The project, slated for completion in 2024, will be able to supply up to 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the national grid to Penang.
"This project is very meaningful to Penang to ensure stable electricity supply, and will boost economic growth in various sectors such as industrial, infrastructure development, transportation and tourism," Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said at the launch of the project at The Light Hotel here today.
Present to launch the high impact project was Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Also present was TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Indera Baharin Din and TNB management.
Takiyuddin said the project, upon completion, would bring a direct connection of electricity supply from the national grid to Penang through overhead line transmission from the mainland to maintain the island's electricity supply.
He said the 8.5km monopole transmission tower project, connecting the Prai Power Station (SJ) Main Inlet Substation (PMU) to The Light PMU in Penang, would be built in parallel with the Penang Bridge and is the second of its kind in Malaysia after Melaka.
"It will be an iconic landmark of Penang due to the unique transmission line tower with a betel nut design. Six of the 31 transmission line towers, in the mod-span of the Penang Bridge, will have the betel nut design.
"The firm capacity on the island at present is 1,130 MW and set to reduce to about 800 MW when the Gelugor Power Station, which is the only power station on the island, is scheduled to end its service contract at the end of 2024.
"At the same time, demand is expected to increase in future. The peak load demand on the island recorded in January 2020 reached 777.85 MW compared to the existing supply system capacity (firm capacity) of 1,130MW.
"As such, the implementation of this high capacity high impact project is the most sustainable solution taking into consideration cost effectiveness, safety, efficiency and a stable supply, including in terms of speed to detect faults and disruptions," he said.
Takiyuddin hoped TNB's investment would be two-pronged — to guarantee energy efficiency and the reliability of the electricity supply network for the people, while also creating activities capable of injecting the country's economic recovery in the post-Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Chow said the RM500 million electricity supply strengthening project was much welcomed in Penang.
"For the Penang government, the project is sure to support and spur the state's development, in line with the Penang2030 vision.
"It is because of this the Penang government fully supports the project," he said.
The physical works, which include the construction of the tower foundation, installation of the tower structure as well as conductor spanning works, are expected to begin by year end.