KUANTAN: A preliminary assessment has found that the Kenyir Dam is still stable following landslides in the area, says Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

       TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Baharin Din said the company's business continuity plan (emergency action plan) had been activated as soon as the landslides occurred to take immediate action to address the situation, including coordination with stakeholders, government agencies and other departments in TNB.

       "Other measures also involve assessing the impact of the incident on the dam structure and the implementation of remedial measures to restore operations at the Sultan Mahmud Power Station,” he said.

       "The preliminary assessment found that the structural integrity of the dam remains strong and secure. The situation around Tasik Kenyir is also guaranteed safe," Baharin added in a statement.

       TNB said operations at the power station in Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu, had been temporarily stopped due to a landslide that toppled a high-voltage electrical transmission tower that supplied power from the station to the national grid.

       The company said unusually heavy rain since Feb 25 resulted in a landslide that severed the access road to the power station at 4am on Feb 27, followed by a sediment flow flooding the station area and flowing into Sungai Terengganu upstream of the 400 megawatt station.

       A third landslide at about 10am on the same day tore down a bridge as well as the 132kV transmission tower.

       TNB said it took immediate steps to stop operations and evacuated the station as soon as conditions allowed its staff to be transferred safely.

       Baharin said TNB would also cooperate with the Public Works Department to monitor slope conditions in addition to seeking the services of an external consultant to make a detailed assessment of the dam's integrity.

       "We expect repair work to take almost six months because it will include the clearing of all obstructions and flood silt, minimising the effects of erosion and preventing the possibility of further erosion as well as maintenance of equipment and generator assets,” said Baharin.

       "Appropriate measures to ensure that the security of the station is under control have also been taken," he added.

       Baharin assured users in the east coast that the power supply would not be affected as it could be supplemented by other sources through the national grid system.