Thursday, January 27, 2011

TNB Awards RM2.149 Billion Ulu Jelai Hydro-Electric Project Contract To Two Consortiums


TNB Awards RM2.149 Billion Ulu Jelai Hydro-Electric Project Contract To Two Consortiums

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Tenaga Nasional Bhd awards contracts worth RM2.149 billion to two consortiums to undertake construction of the Ulu Jelai hydro-electric power plant in Pahang.

The plant, to be operational by July 2016, entails construction of one dam and installation of two hydro turbines and generators in a underground power station with a total installed capacity of 372 megawatt.

The consortium of Tindakan Mewah Sdn Bhd and Salini Costruttori S.p.A Consortium will be responsible for the main civil, electrical and mechanical works, it said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia Wednesday.

The main civil works consists of the construction of a dam, two water transfer tunnels and an underground powerhouse.

Electrical and mechanical works involve the design, manufacture, erection, testing and commissioning of two power-generating plants, each with a capacity of 186MW and the associated electrical and mechanical equipment.

The contract price is EURO307 million and RM818.1 million, which is equivalent to RM2.050 billion, it said.

The consortium of SMEC International Pty Ltd and SMEC (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd will provide detailed engineering design for the main civil works, engineering design review for electrical and mechanical works, project management and site supervision, said Tenaga.

The contract price is AU$D22.1 million and RM31.1 million, respectively, equivalent to RM99.6 million at the current exchange rate, it said.

The contract period for the development of the Ulu Jelai Hydroelectric Project is five years. Payment to the contractors will be made according to the progress of the project.

The above cost will potentially result in an increase in the company's net assets by about 7.1 per cent, said Tenaga.

The project, in the Cameron Highlands district, is part of ongoing efforts by Tenaga to provide peak load capacity to meet increasing demand for electricity and improve power system security by using renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.

The project comprises Susu Dam on Sungai Bertam, two diversion weirs on Sungai Lemoi and Sungai Telom for the diversion of flows from the adjacent catchment via transfer tunnel into Sungai Bertam.

-- BERNAMA