KOTA KINABALU (May 22): Petronas Gas Bhd’s (PGB) subsidiary, Kimanis Power Sdn Bhd (KPSB), began commercial operations of the first 100 MW block of its Kimanis Power Plant (KPP) in Kimanis, on May 16.

The KPP, one of several petroleum and energy related projects developed by the Petronas Group in Sabah, is expected to contribute significantly to the reliability and security of power supply in the state.

The three-block 300 MW gas-fired power plant is a key project in the "Power Up Sabah" initiative, established under the Malaysian Economic Transformation Plan (ETP).

The plant, a joint venture between Petronas PGB and Yayasan Sabah subsidiary, NRG Consortium (Sabah) Sdn Bhd, utilises natural gas from offshore Sabah, and its first block’s commercial operations date (COD) was within the targeted schedule announced in February this year, a statement said.

“KPSB remains focused on achieving the COD for the plant’s second and third 100 MW blocks in the third quarter of 2014," KPSB Chairman, Yusa’ Hassan, said.

PGB owns 60 per cent of KPSB, with NRG Consortium owning the remaining 40 per cent.