Sabah’s largest hydropower station is officially back online at full capacity, following a nearly three-year recovery effort after a 2022 landslide crippled operations.
Tenom Pangi Hydropower Station — Malaysia’s largest run-of-river facility — marked its full return Wednesday, just as the plant celebrates 40 years since first powering up in 1984.
Located on the Padas River, all three of the station’s turbines were knocked offline by a landslide on October 31, 2022.
Two turbines returned to partial service in September 2024, but the station only reached full generating capacity of 66 megawatts last month, in April 2025.
Approximately, a RM60 million was spent for restoration.
“This marks a major step in strengthening Sabah’s power stability,” said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya at Wednesday’s relaunch in Tenom.
“With all 66 megawatts back on the grid, we expect more stable supply, especially along the west coast,” he added.
Officials also took the opportunity to dispel long-standing public misconceptions linking the plant to flooding in Beaufort, Tenom, and Sipitang.
“I have visited this station and seen it for myself — it is not the cause of flooding in these areas,” Shahelmey said.
He said instead to upstream land clearing and logging activities as more likely contributors to both the 2022 landslide disaster and ongoing flood risks.
SESB Chairman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau reinforced that the station operates on a run-of-river system, which blocked the flow of river water like a conventional dam.
“Water flows through the turbines and is released straight back into the river. There is no large-scale storage here,” Tangau explained. “The structure that people mistake for a dam is actually a diversion gate that channels part of the river for power generation.”
SESB hopes the clarification will improve public understanding after years of misperception.
Closing the ceremony, SESB Chief Executive Officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar commended the teams behind the nearly three-year restoration.
“Our people and partners worked tirelessly to overcome technical and environmental challenges,” Yaakob said. “Restoring Tenom Pangi to full capacity strengthens Sabah’s power system and reflects the dedication of everyone involved.” – May 15, 2025
