Expedited Water Projects for Penang
The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is working to accelerate the implementation of multi-billion ringgit water projects for the state. According to PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K.Pathmanathan, four projects under the Water Contingency Plan 2030 (WCP 2030) will commence this year, with a total projected investment of RM824 million.
Projects Under WCP 2030
The four projects include the construction of treated water pipelines from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to Butterworth and from the Macallum area to Bukit Dumbar, increasing the pumping of treated water from Sungai Dua to consumers on Penang Island. The other two projects are the construction of the new 114 million litres per day (MLD) Mengkuang Dam WTP with the conversion of the Expanded Mengkuang Dam (EMD) into a "daily dam" to support better water supply services in Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT), and the new 114 MLD Sungai Kerian WTP to boost water supply services in Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS).
Collaboration with Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB)
PBAPP would like to thank PAAB for its commitment to collaborating on two other projects under WCP 2030 in Penang, namely the new 136 MLD Sungai Perai WTP and the new 114 MLD Sungai Muda WTP. PAAB is committed to providing funding for these 2 projects with an estimated value of RM1.023 billion. PBAPP will repay PAAB via favourable long-term financing terms.
Federal Water Projects
The Penang government and PBAPP will also seek the timely implementation of six federal water projects for Penang, with a total projected investment of between RM500 million and RM700 million. The six projects include the construction of the new RM214 million 440 MLD Lahar Yooi Pump House (Phase 2C of the Mengkuang Dam Expansion Project – MDEP), a new 440 MLD Dual-Purpose Pipeline connecting the EMD and the Sungai Dua Canal, and the Sungai Muda and Sungai Kerian Off-River Storage Scheme (ORSS). The other projects are the Bukit Panchor Dam upgrading works (currently under feasibility study by the consultant) and the new RM118 million Sungai Muda Barrage in Rantau Panjang, which would allow access to 1,500 MLD of raw water from Sungai Muda.
Perak-Penang Water Project
As for the Perak-Penang Water Project, PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K.Pathmanathan said the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) had issued a public tender for the appointment of a consultant for physical works for the Raw Water Transfer Project from Sungai Perak for Water Supply in North Perak and Penang. The federal allocation for the project is reportedly about RM1.7 billion, and PETRA’s public tender exercise to appoint the consultant for physical works clearly shows that the federal government is committed to implementing the project on time for Penang by 2030.
Conclusion
The efforts to expedite the implementation of these water projects are in response to increasing water consumption driven by socioeconomic growth as well as climate change. The Penang government and PBAPP are committed to ensuring a stable and reliable water supply for the people of Penang.
FAQs
Q: What are the four projects under WCP 2030 that will commence this year?
A: The four projects include the construction of treated water pipelines, the new Mengkuang Dam WTP, the new Sungai Kerian WTP, and the construction of treated water pipelines from the Sungai Dua WTP to Butterworth and from the Macallum area to Bukit Dumbar.
Q: What is the total projected investment for the six federal water projects?
A: The total projected investment for the six federal water projects is between RM500 million and RM700 million.
Q: What is the federal allocation for the Perak-Penang Water Project?
A: The federal allocation for the Perak-Penang Water Project is reportedly about RM1.7 billion.