TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd's (TNB Genco) Nenggiri hydroelectric project director Dahalil Saad (right) showing the dam project site with TNB Genco managing director Muhammad Nazri Pazil (centre).

GUA MUSANG (Aug 21): Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) (KL:TENAGA), through its wholly owned subsidiary TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco), is considering expanding its renewable energy portfolio with two new large hydroelectric power plants.

TNB Genco managing director Muhammad Nazri Pazil said in a media briefing that the company sees the potential of constructing the hydro plants in Lebir, Kelantan, and Pekan, Pahang.

While he did not explicitly state the generation capacity of the projects, they could generate “much bigger" power generation compared with its 300MW hydro plant currently under construction in Nenggiri, Kelantan.

This as the reservoirs, a larger collection of water behind a hydroelectric dam, are expected to be bigger in size, he said.

Feasibility studies for the project have been done, Muhammad Nazri said. He did not elaborate on the early estimates of the costs and timeframe for the projects.

TNB currently operates three major hydroelectric schemes in the country: the Sungai Perak Hydro Scheme (1,249.1MW), the Cameron Highlands Scheme (622MW), and the Kenyir Scheme (665MW).

The RM5 billion Nenggiri hydroelectric plant, TNB’s latest, has a scheduled commercial operation date of June 1, 2027.