Pahang's RM850 Mln Chereh Dam Solar Project To Create 1,500 Jobs
KUANTAN, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- A RM850 million floating solar photovoltaic (PV) project at Chereh Dam in Pahang is expected to create about 1,500 jobs and generate clean electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of 100,000 households.
Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said the project, a collaboration between Citaglobal Bhd, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) and Tiza Global Sdn Bhd, marked a major step towards expanding the state's use of renewable energy.
The Pahang Ruler said the project was set to become one of the largest floating solar installations in Southeast Asia, while creating employment opportunities for local communities.
"We hope it will create jobs and be completed as soon as possible," Al-Sultan Abdullah told reporters after officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Chereh Dam floating solar PV project at a hotel here today.
Citaglobal Bhd group chief operating officer Datuk Aimi Aizal Nasharuddin said construction was expected to begin in January or February next year, with completion targeted for the end of March 2028.
The 200-megawatt (MW) project will cover about 1,500 acres (607 hectares) of the dam's water surface and is expected to generate 1,500 jobs, particularly during the construction phase, he said.
The jobs would span several fields, including engineering, construction, hydrographic surveying, electrical engineering and other related professions.
Meanwhile, Citaglobal New Energy Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Chairil Nazri Ahmad said floating solar technology could improve electricity generation efficiency because panels installed over water generally operate at lower temperatures than those mounted on land.
He said installing solar panels on the reservoir could also help reduce water evaporation and preserve water reserves.
"The solar panels are estimated to have a total capacity of 307 MW, while the maximum electricity export capacity to the grid is 200 MW. Actual generation will depend on weather conditions and the amount of sunlight received, with the electricity generated fed into the grid for distribution to consumers," he said.
Also present were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Citaglobal Bhd executive chairman and president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, and Masdar executive director for projects and business development Abdulla Zayed.
-- BERNAMA