Tawau geothermal project to benefit 15,000 households

TAWAU: The 30MW geothermal project in Apas Kiri here, which is scheduled to be completed in May 2019 is expected to benefit about 15,000 households in the district.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan said the project developed by Tenaga Green Energy Sdn Bhd (TGE) under the feed-in tariff scheme would also be advantageous to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd in terms of minimising power loss in its system.

“The project which commenced in November 2011 will allow Sabah to reduce 800 tons of carbon dioxide emission annually,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

During his visit here yesterday, Pairin also visited a number of pump stations.

He said the Public Works Department (JKR) would replace the damaged pump at Fajar Complex station in three weeks. The pump was rendered non-functional by rubbish thrown into the manholes which directly entered the pump station.

“Tender for repair of the whole M&E system at the pump station has already been awarded by JKR headquarters and hopefully work could commence by early October this year,” said Pairin, who is also Sabah Infrastructure Development Minister.

He said the ministry would request for RM800,000 from the Finance Ministry for the repair of leaking underground pipes at the Central Batu 3 pump station in Jalan Apas.

“We hope the amount will be channelled to Sabah JKR to enable it to call for tender and manage the procurement this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pairin urged Tawau JKR to liaise with Tawau Municipal Council (MPT) to use provisions in the law in resolving the issue about its sewerage asset which had been fenced up by a private workshop in the same vicinity, preventing it from carrying out an inspection.

He also wants Tawau JKR to discuss with MPT on resolving the problem of black motor oil disposal by auto workshops into the manholes, and other issues such as theft and vandalism.

“If not curbed, repairing or replacing the equipment would be pointless and a waste of government funds,” he said. - Bernama