KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 8): The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said on Wednesday that it will roll out six water supply related projects worth over RM1.8 billion, as part of its efforts to address rising water consumption.
Four of the projects will begin this year at a total cost of RM824 million.
The four projects, part of the state's Water Contingency Plan 2030 (WCP 2030), include two new water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 228 million litres per day (MLD) in Mengkeng Dam, which costs RM250 million, and Sungai Kerian, valued at RM402 million.
The other projects involve a 13km pipeline in Seberang Perai, from the Sungai Dua plant to Butterworth (RM128 million), and a 3.9km pipeline on Penang Island, from the Macallum area to the Bukit Dumbar Reservoir and Pumping Station Complex (RM44 million).
PBAPP, a wholly owned subsidiary of PBA Holdings Bhd (KL:PBA), also confirmed that it has received a commitment from Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB), which is fully owned by Minister of Finance Inc, to collaborate on two additional water treatment plants, one of which has a capacity of 136 MLD in Sungai Perai for RM588 million while the other has a capacity of 114 MLD in Sungai Muda for RM435 million.
"PAAB has committed to providing funding for these two projects, with an estimated value of RM1.023 billion. PBAPP will repay PAAB through favourable long-term financing terms," said PBAPP and PBA chief executive officer Datuk K Pathmanathan in a statement.
Pathmanathan added that PBAPP and the state government will work to ensure the timely implementation of six federal water projects, with a total projected investment of between RM500 million and RM700 million.
Two of these projects, the Lahar Yooi Pump House and the 440 MLD dual-purpose pipeline connecting the expanded Mengkuang Dam and the Sungai Dua Canal, may be funded using 'left-over federal funds' from the Mengkuang Dam Expansion Project.
The state will also apply for federal funding for two off-river storage scheme projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan, he added.