THE Penang government has again appealed to the Federal Government to expedite the completion of the Mengkuang Dam Expansion Project (MDEP).
In his winding-up speech, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the MDEP is a project funded by a Federal grant of RM1.2 billion, as announced in 2011.
“As of November this year, there are still three pending water component projects which are yet to be completed.
“They are Phase 2B which includes the installation of pipelines to upgrade discharge capacity to increase drawdown capacity to 600 MLD (million litres per day); Phase 2C which is the construction of a new 440 MLD pump house in Sungai Muda to enable efficient refilling of the Mengkuang Dam during rainy seasons; and a new barrage in Sungai Muda to support additional abstraction of raw water from the river during rainy seasons to refill the Mengkuang Dam.
“The Federal Government is expected to hand over the Phase 2B project to the state in January next year (2024), thus, increasing the dam’s maximum release capacity from 300 MLD (now) to 600 MLD,” he told the Penang Legislative Assembly today.
Chow highlighted the long-term water solutions for the state which include the Perak-Penang Water Project, as well as other strategic initiatives such as the desalination of seawater and wastewater recycling.
He also spoke about non-revenue water (NRW) in Penang.
“Last year, Penang’s NRW was 26.3% and the main factors were leaking and broken pipelines. There are asbestos cement (AC) water pipes measuring 1,200km beneath the roads in Penang.
“These water pipes, with a lifespan of over 30 years, need to be replaced and the estimated cost is RM2.2 billion (or an estimated average cost of RM1.834 million per kilometre).
“The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is unable to invest RM2.2 billion immediately to reduce the percentage of NRW. However, the replacement of AC water pipes will be carried out in stages.
“PBAPP will invest RM250 million next year (2024), to replace about 138km of worn-out AC water pipes,” he said.
On another water-related issue, Chow said the Perak government has agreed in principle to sell treated water to Penang.
“Additional discussions and subsequent follow-up sessions are necessary with Perak to delve into the intricate details of the cost associated with acquiring treated water. This issue warrants thorough technical research.
“This project entails the development of an intricate infrastructure, encompassing the construction of raw water channelling tunnels, the establishment of a raw water pipe network, and the construction of a new water treatment plant.
“The successful implementation of this construction project necessitates the initial completion of infrastructure facilities on the Perak side.
“This preliminary step is essential to facilitate the subsequent distribution of treated water to Penang. Following this, Penang will be responsible for establishing a reservoir for water storage and installing a water supply reticulation piping system that will directly serve the intended users,” Chow explained.
He added that the construction period was expected to be prolonged, contingent upon the allocation process.
“Both states are committed to expediting the start of this construction, underscoring the urgency of immediate action. Consequently, the Federal Government must accord priority in approving the allocation of funds to facilitate the prompt initiation of this project,” Chow said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud