Gambang, 16 June 2022 – UiTM Solar Power Sdn Bhd (USPSB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of UiTM Holdings Sdn Bhd (UHSB), which owns and operates a 50MWac Large Scale Solar Photovoltaic (LSSPV) power plant in Gambang, Pahang, known as UiTM Solar Park I (USP I), is pleased to announce that the plant is back in operation following a 7-month shutdown due to a malfunction of its power transformer and gas-insulated switchgear in November 2021.
UHSB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), which is the only university in the country to own and operate two LSSPV plants. UiTM is now amongst globally renowned public and private universities such as University of California, Stanford University and University of Queensland, that own and operate large scale solar power plants.
UHSB Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Muhammad Mubarak Ishak said, with rectification of its power transformer, re-energization of USP I commenced on 10 June 2022 and the plant began exporting to the Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) grid on 12 June 2022. Rectification works involving installation and commissioning of a new 90MVA transformer was carried out by the UiTM Energy & Facilities Sdn Bhd (UEFSB) Asset Management team.
In light of the above incidents, MARC Ratings Berhad, had in January 2022, placed its rating of AA-IS on USP’s outstanding RM202.3 million Green SRI Sukuk on MARCWatch Negative.
“As the rectification works have been carried our satisfactorily, it is anticipated that the return to operation of USP I will allow us to maintain the AA rating of the outstanding RM192.3 million sukuk to enable USP I to meet its upcoming sukuk and other financial obligations,” said Encik Mubarak.
USP I has a generation capacity of 61MWp and had successfully achieved commercial operation on 5th April 2019. UiTM Holdings’ second LSSPV power plant known as UiTM Solar Park II (USP II) with a generation capacity of 31MWp, which was undertaken by UHSB’s 100% subsidiary, UiTM Solar Power Dua Sdn Bhd (USPDSB), had successfully commenced commercial operation on 2nd December 2020.
USP I and USP II were both awarded by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA or now known as Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources – KETSA) through Suruhanjaya Tenaga via LSS competitive bidding exercises. Both power plants, USP I and USP II, were developed by UHSB’s wholly owned subsidiaries, USPSB and USPDSB, respectively. The subsidiaries are part of UHSB’s Energy Division which is principally involved in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Green Technology businesses.