Sabah & Sarawak Superblog

31st October, 2012

KOTA KINABALU: A geothermal power plant costing about RM419 million is being built by Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd (TGE) at Apas Kiri , Tawau.

TGE Project Director Andrew Amaladoss said that 36MWe electrical generation is equivalent to 56 million tonnes of carbon equivalent eliminated annually; 13.5 trillion trees planted annually and 45 million cars off the roads annually.



“The plant is expected to be completed in late 2014 and will be Malaysia’s first grid-connected geothermal plant,” he said.

In 2008, Mineral and Geo-science Department (GMJ) commissioned Universiti Sains Malaysia and University of Indonesia to undertake magneto telluric and Time Domain Electromagnetic study of Apas Kiri Geothermal prospect.

Besides, the proposed geothermal power plant project is sited on the Sabah Parks and Sabah Forestry Department land.

The project will be funded by the local financial institutions and has qualified to receive a grant from the Private-Public Partnership Unit of the Prime Ministers Department for access road and water treatment plant.

He said the project has received support from the Federal government, Sabah government and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).

According to Andrew, the power plant will be connected from the SESB grid to the new Andrassy 132kV/33kV Main Intake Substation, 132kV interconnection, Tawau Main Intake Substation and Kalumpang Main Intake Substation.

He also mentioned that a few of the projects milestone is Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement (REPPA) with Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) signed on 29th November 2011 and Land Lease Agreement with Sabah Parks for 50 year lease signed on 17th August 2012.

Furthermore, a Facilitation Fund Agreement for grant of RM35 million to cover cost of access road signed with the government of Malaysia and Bank Pembangunan Malaysia on 25th May 2012.

In addition, Andrew said that to enable access to the project site and transport drilling rig, plant and equipments, an access road of approximately 18km in length, including 3 bridges, need to be constructed.

“60 per cent of the 18km stretch has been opened already and expected to be completed in two months’ time,” he said.

Earlier in the seminar, senior geologist of TGE Armando, Alma Licup, briefly explained on how geothermal energy works to generate electricity power for homes and businesses.

According to Armando, the natural heat from the earth creates a geothermal resource. He said the geothermal superheated fluid into steam through the production well and uses to drive a turbine and generate electricity.

“All remaining geothermal fluids are injected back into the underground reservoir for reuse. Magma will naturally reheat the fluid so it can be used again,” he said.

Geothermal power plant is a form of renewable green energy, which does not require any fuel burning or combustion to produce heat or electricity. It emits little carbon dioxide, no nitrogen dioxide and very low amounts of sulphur dioxide.

He said, the advantages of using geothermal power is it provides clean energy, renewable and sustainable, easy on the land and conserves fossil fuels and contributes to biodiversity in energy resources.

“Geothermal power plants run 24 hours a day throughout the year and also provides power to remote areas and avoid the use of fossil fuel and most of all, it benefits the local economy.

“This process has no smoky emissions as they emit water vapour,” he said.

Armando also noted that the geothermal power plants are producing over 9,200 megawatts of electricity to 21 countries and supply to 60 million people.

Other uses of geothermal are for agriculture, industrial, aquaculture, buildings, factories and tourism industries.

Other speakers who delivered the talk were the senior geophysicist of TGE, Susianto Mandagi and the General Manager of Regional Execution Centre Asia for Alstom Renewable Power, Etienne Palasti

(Source: New Sabah Times)