Sesb Expects Cleaning Work At Tenom Pangi Hydro Plant To Be Completed By Next Month

KOTA KINABALU, June 12 (Bernama) -- Maintenance work on the Tenom Pangi Hydro Power Station (SHTP) turbine which was damaged due to the floods on Oct 31, 2022, is expected to be completed next month.

Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) general manager (distribution) Addie Ahmad said cleaning works of the hydro tunnel is expected to be completed by end of the month and once completed, water from the Pedas River will be allowed to flow into the tunnel to start the turbine.

He said SESB was currently in the process of carrying out the permanent slope protection work at critical points along the road into the station to ensure landslides can be mitigated in the future.

"SESB together with the contractor engaged to carry out the works will not use any explosive divices to break down huge rocks in the area,” he said in a statement here today.

Addie added that the cost for carrying out the repair works has reached RM60 million and SHTP will have the capacity to generate 66 megawatt (MW) of electricity once operations start in November.

The plant was shut down for more than 18 months after heavy flooding and landslides caused mudflows and large rocks to block the intake gate, thus damaging all three turbines.

"Five teams are working hard and wading through eight kilometres into the tunnel to clear the debris, mud, rocks and logs that drifted into the tunnel during the floods. Logs and rocks are still found at the power house and surge tank," he said.

-- BERNAMA