KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 20): PBA Holdings Bhd (KL:PBA) said the group is undertaking three major pipeline projects in Penang, scheduled for completion in 2025 or 2026 at a total cost of RM189 million.

These pipelines will allow the group's subsidiary and Penang's water supply operator, Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP), to pump more water at higher pressures from the Sungai Dua water treatment plant, said PBA Holdings CEO Datuk K Pathmanathan

The statement was issued in conjunction with the opening of the Sungai Dua plant's Package 12A  by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow on Friday.

"With the commissioning of Package 12A, we have effectively increased Penang’s overall maximum water  treatment capacity by 114 MLD (million litres per day), from 1,612 MLD to 1,726 MLD," said Pathmanathan. "With increased treatment capacity in hand, PBAPP will now focus on upgrading Penang’s water distribution network [or pipeline network] to deliver more treated water to our customers."

It is carrying out this through the implementation of the three major pipeline projects, comprising a 13km pipeline project in Seberang Perai, from the Sungai Dua plant to Butterworth (RM128 million), a 3.9km pipeline on Penang island, from Macallum area to the Bukit Dumbar Reservoir and Pumping Station Complex (RM44 million), and the Sungai Perai River-Crossing Pipeline Project in Seberang Perai (RM17 million).

These pipeline projects will help to improve water supply services for 67.4% of Penang’s 689,786 registered water consumers, said Pathmanathan, who is also the CEO of PBAPP.

The statement also noted that in 2025, PBAPP will undertake the development of a new 114 MLD water treatment plant on the premise of the expanded Mengkuang Dam in Seberang Perai Tengah district.

The RM120 million plant will also allow the company to pump less water from the Sungai Dua plant into Seberang Perai Tengah and more water to other areas in Seberang Perai, it said.

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