The Ulu Jelai hydroelectric project is currently under way in Malaysia, about 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur in the state of Pahang. The project consists of a first lot for the access roads (CW1) and a second lot (CW2+EM1) for construction of an RCC (roller-compacted concrete) dam 90 meters high, an underground hydroelectric power plant capable of housing two Francis turbines with a combined installed capacity of 382 MW, including with hydroelectric and mechanical equipment with catchment works, and approximately 25 km of tunnels, 15 km of which created using TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) technology.
In December 2013, a third lot of the project consisting of protection of the basin’s shores using filters and micropiles was awarded, valued at about €80 million, bringing the value of the contract to approximately €680 million.
The construction work, carried out by the subsidiary Salini Malaysia Sdn Bhd as part of a consortium with local partner Tindakan Mewah Sdn Bhd (Salini Malaysia 90%), will continue until 2016. The first lot of the project for the access road has been completed and delivered in the second half of 2013 (final certificate in September 2013). As for the main lot consisting of the dam and hydroelectric plant, dam excavation and the river diversion works, excavation on the underground plant and tunnels of the plant headrace and tailrace system have been completed (only 20 meters of the intake tunnel remain to be finished). About 80% of the concrete has been laid (592,000 m3 out of an estimated total of 750,000 m3), the structure of the plant is nearing completion and the installation of electromechanical components has now begun in various parts of it.
For the third lot of the project, the mobilization phase has been completed and the consolidation works using rockfill have started with about 510,000 m3 of rockfill, filters and drains placed. The construction of access roads and the diversion of the river in three places has been completed. The installation of micropiles in the areas adjacent to the dam have begun, with the placement of 42 micropiles (corresponding to around 1,250 meters). The percentage of completion as of December 31, 2014 was 72.8%.