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Malaysian project to add 30 MW by mid 2016

Malaysian project to add 30 MW by mid 2016 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia (source: flickr/ timparkinson, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 14 Apr 2014

The planned geothermal power project near Apas Kiri in Sabah, Malaysia is planned to add 30 MW to the grid under a 21-year PPA with planned start of operation towards mid 2016.

The geothermal project planned in Sabah, Malaysia is planned to add 30 MW in power generation capacity starting in the second quarter of 2016.

Developed by Tawau Green Energy, the company recently announced a series of supply contracts for the project.

The first phase will include digging exploratory wells to establish the parameters and potential of the geothermal reservoir.

Output from the plant will be sold to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd via 132KV interconnections to the grid under a 21-year renewable energy power purchase agreement.

The geothermal area near Apas Kiri was discovered in a geoelectric survey in late 2008/ early 2009 through the country’s Minerals and Geoscience Department.

The survey covered an area of about 50 sq km around the Apas Kiri geothermal surface manifestations, and it was determined that there was a sub surface hot water field measuring about 12 sq km.

Calculations estimated that the area had a potential to host a geothermal power plant with the capacity of 67MW at a depth of 2.5km.

Tawau Green Energy also said it would create a resource centre that would bring stakeholders and specialists in the geothermal energy industry together to provide capacity building for this new industry in Malaysia. The resource centre is aimed at providing training and short courses in applied geosciences, geothermal exploration, geothermal drilling, as well as steamfield and power plant design and operations.

Apart from that, the resource centre also functions as a platform for local universities to collaborate with foreign institutions in the field of geothermal energy.

Tawau Green Energy had also signed several MoUs with state agencies and institutions such as the University of Auckland as well as Universiti Malaysia Sabah to cement its ambition.

The company is embarking on collaborations with the Iceland-based United Nations University’s Geo­thermal Training Programme and Institut Teknologi Bandung of Indonesia.”

Source: The Star