Story by Danny Ooi
PENANGITES can be assured there will be no water rationing for the next 10 years after the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) completes the RM125 million Butterworth-Penang Island Twin Submarine Pipeline project.
Speaking to the media during a technical visit to the completed Package One site in Macallum Street Ghaut on March 19, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng congratulated PBAPP, adding that the corporation can claim credit for not imposing water rationing for the past 10 years.
Lim said the project ensures that Penang lives up to its “no water rationing” policy in the future, for the benefit of the people and thousands of businesses on the island.
“This is something that no other state in the country has achieved,” Lim added.
“The implementation of the new Butterworth-Penang Island Twin Submarine Pipeline project reflects our unwavering commitment to ensure that supply is always ahead of demand.
“Other than no water rationing, PBAPP is the most profitable water supply operator in Malaysia, with the cheapest water tariff set at RM0.32 per 1,000 litres for the first 32,000 litres.
“Besides, Penang also achieved the highest water reserve margin of 34.1% among the other states in the country.
“We achieved this through our 4P partnership (public, private, people, professional) and the good management of PBAPP,” Lim, who is also PBAPP chairman, added.
Also present were PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa, exco for Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Lim Hock Seng and Komtar assemblymember Teh Lai Heng.
Meanwhile, Jaseni said the new submarine pipeline project is being developed in three packages:
Package 1, which encompasses the laying of 0.9km of 1,800mm land pipelines in the Macallum area in George Town has been completed at a cost of about RM9.2 million.
Package 2A and 2B involve the laying of 0.8km of 1,800mm land pipelines in Butterworth. PBAPP is awaiting approval from the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP), Lembaga Leburaya Malaysia (LLM) and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) to commence work.
Package 3 will see the laying of 3.2km of 1,200mm twin submarine pipelines from Butterworth to the Macallum area on Penang Island. The open tender is scheduled to be called by May 2018. Jaseni said the entire project was scheduled for completion by December 2020.
“When completed, the new Butterworth-Penang Island Twin Submarine Pipeline will deliver up to 315 million litres per day of treated water from the Sungai Dua water treatment plant to PBAPP pump houses and treated water will then be re-pumped to water consumers throughout the southern parts of Penang Island and Balik Pulau,” he said.