Penang supply booster project to develop national grid

PETALING JAYA: The implementation of the Penang Electricity Supply Enhancement Project through the 275 kilovolts (kV) overhead transmission line is part of Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) continuous investment in developing the National Grid in line with the country’s energy transition needs.

President and chief executive officer Datuk Baharin Din said the project’s foundation works were currently taking place with full completion slated for August 2024.

Once completed, it could channel 2,000 megavolts (MV) of electricity, which would guarantee the stability of electricity supply in the state in the long term.

“The components of the project, which is worth more than RM500mil, include the construction of an 8.5-km overhead line with iconic towers parallel to the Penang Bridge, connecting the main inlet substation (PMU) in Perai with The Light PMU, which will be built near the Batu Uban Military Camp, and a new 3.3-km 132kV underground cable to Gelugor PMU,” he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported.

He said currently, the island received supply from the Gelugor Power Station through two undersea cables, as well as one cable under the bridge aged between 21 and 38 years old, which has high maintenance costs and has experienced damage.

Baharin said the direct transmission of the overhead line allowed users and investors in Penang to enjoy a stronger, more efficient and stable supply system, including in terms of the speed to detect any damage or disruption.

He said this catered to the needs of the state government and the people of Penang, who required a strong energy supply to carry out physical development including the road network, public transport, ports and airports capacity increment, in addition to land reclamation activities for settlement and commercial development.

Baharin said the project had been approved by the Environmental Impact Assessment and its implementation would not affect the seabed because TNB and the appointed contractor would comply with the conditions of the Environmental Management Plan to preserve the environment.

“All these works have permits and are supervised by government agencies such as the Malaysian Highway Authority, Marine Department Malaysia, Penang Port Commission and so on.

“Even construction procedures and methods will be subjected to the conditions specified in the permit,” he said, adding that the project would be carried out by three experienced companies in overhead line construction and offshore construction works.