KOTA KINABALU: Prominent entrepreneur Tan Sri TC Goh has praised the state government for coming up with long-term solutions to the existing water and electricity issues.
And, Goh who is a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC), especially cites the 187.5MW Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project (UPHEP) in Tenom as the answer to the long- standing problem the current GRS government inherited after coming to power in 2020.
In fact, a number of initiatives, he says, had already been implemented earlier to address supply disruptions before the UPHEP commences production.
The UPHEP is scheduled for completion in December 2030.
He explains that the water and electricity problems had been extant for decades.
“The demand for water and electricity supplies will continue to rise and that means production too has to increase.
“However, this is not something which can be resolved overnight,” he explains.
Goh also points out that addressing these issues warrants a multi-faceted approach including proper management and promoting water conservation.
Goh who also leads the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) and the Federal of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), says he is confident the UPHEP project will proceed smoothly given the reputation and experience of the companies handling it.
The UPHEP is capable of generating an average of 1,052 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean energy annually – hence increasing Sabah’s current dependable capacity by some 15 per cent.
And, it will also double the renewable energy (RE) mix, supporting Sabah’s goal of achieving approximately 35% RE share in its generation mix by 2035.
The UPHEP was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Amwar Ibrahim two years ago.
At the launch, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor had expressed confidence that it would also resolve Sabah’s water supply issue in the longer term.
The dam is able to release up to 6,000 million litres of water daily.
Kota Kinabalu residents only need to use about 500 to 600 million litres of water per day.
Gamuda Berhad is the total development contractor (TDC) for this power project in partnership with Conlay Construction Sdn Bhd (Conlay).
Water scarcity and power shortages will be a thing of the past when the UPHEP commences commercial operation.
The potential benefits of a dam include water supply, electricity generation, flood control, recreation as well as irrigation.
