The completion of the Ulu Padas hydroelectric project is expected to bring about significant economic benefits for the 60,000 inhabitants of the interior Tenom district in Sabah.
According to Upper Padas Power Sdn Bhd project director Lim Chin Hong, the establishment of the facility will open up various business opportunities, including ecotourism, water supply, and fisheries development.
During a media luncheon in Kota Kinabalu on Jan 10, Lim Chin Hong mentioned that the project is on schedule to be completed by 2029.
He also stated that the water supply component of the project is set to be finished by 2027, which is earlier than the original timeline.
Lim Chin Hong estimated that upon completion, the dam’s capacity of 6,000 megalitres per day (MLD) will greatly improve the overall water supply situation in Sabah, given that the current demand is only around 700MLD.
It was also noted that the facility’s power production capacity will be able to meet approximately 15% of the state’s energy requirements.
Aside from these advantages, Lim Chin Hong highlighted the ecotourism potential of the hydroelectric project, emphasizing the estimated 30km lakeside area and 647ha (1,600 acre) surface of the reservoir.
He mentioned potential activities such as floating solar panels, fishing, and research due to the rich freshwater fish population in the Padas River.
He specifically pointed out the presence of pelian, a type of freshwater fish similar to the empurau in Sarawak, as a notable opportunity for the area.
