Half-Day Technical Visit to Tanjung Bin Power Plant

On 11 Feb 2015, I received an email from IEM Southern Branch.

After CNY, the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) Southern Branch is organizing a technical visit to Tanjung Bin Power Plant.

Tanjung Bin Power Plant is located at Serkat, Pontian, Johor.
Somewhere quite near to Tanjung Piai or Kukup.

Tanjung Bin Power Plant is the first private coal-first  plant in Malaysia and the biggest coal-fired IPP in South East Asia. The power plant which is 90% owned by Malakoff Corporation Berhad and 10% by Malaysia's Employees Provided Fund (EPF), has generating capacity of 2,100 MW (700MW x 3 Units).

Tanjung Bin was constructed at a cost of US$2 billion, making it one of the largest infrastructure projects in South East Asia. The plant was completed on schedule, within 48 months and 16 days from its commencement date. The project was also completed below budget.

Tanjung Bin boasts the largest boiler drums in the world, with more than 21,000 welds per boiler which passed three hydrostatic tests without a single failure. It is also equipped with clean coal technologies such as the Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) and Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD).

Teknik Janakuasa Sdn. Bhd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Malakoff. is the Operations and Maintenance Sub-contractor of Tanjung Bin. Amongst Tanjung Bins accolades include the followings;

• "Best Emissions Reduction Projects in Asia Award" at the prestigious 2006 Power Asian Awards
• Malaysia's Largest Corporate and Islamic Bond Issue for 2003" award at RAM's inaugural League Award Night

The visit is strictly limited to 25 participants only. (However, there are 28 IEM people coming to visit Tanjung Bin Power Plant)

Registration will be on a first-come-first serve basis REGISTRATION IS CONFIRMED ONLY WITH PAYMENT RECEIVED. (that is true, if late will lose the chance to visit and the fees must be settled in advance prior to the visit)

Kindly return the reply to the IEM (SB) office before 24th February 2015 together with a non-refundable commitment fee of RM 50 per person (RM 90 for non-IEM members) and made payable to The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Southern Branch). On 14 Feb 2015, 6:42pm, I bank-in the Commitment Fees into the Institution's Maybank Current Account (No. 5-013920-15708) and to facsimile the bank-in slip as well as the Reply Slip to the Institution.

Details listed as follows:

8am - 8:20am:
According to IEM website, whoever paid their membership renewal fee before 31 March 2015, they will receive an 8GB thumb drive. I just renew my membership through online payment on 7 January 2015.

So, this morning before technical visit, I went up to IEM Southern Branch Secretariat office to collect the 8GB thumb drive.

To collect the 8GB thumb drive, I need to fill in the form and submitted together with the receipt of payment for membership renewal 2015.

8GB thumb drive 

8:20am - 8:30am:
Participants are to assemble at outside of IEM Secretariat office.

This technical visit to Tanjung Bin Power Plant, attend by 28 people (excluding 2 absent), including IEM (SB) Hon. Secretary Ir. Derek Cheah Kong Yew and IEM secretariat Puan Lina.

The transportation by bus (JJF7788) to Tanjung Bin Power Plant will be provided by IEM (SB).

8:30am - 10am:
Travel from IEM Southern Branch to Tanjung Bin Power Plant by bus (bus plate no.: JJF 7788).

During travel to Tanjung Bin, I met a friendly professional engineer, Ir Mau Kwong Ching @ Moo Kwang Ching. He is civil engineering background, from University of Malaya 1976. During journey to Tanjung Bin, he keep sharing his background and experience with us (graduate engineer). First, when he was young, he migrate with his family from Hong Kong to Sarawak. After taking HSC in Sarawak, he went to  University of Malaya for further study. After graduating from University, he buy a house in Taman Melawati. Finally, he settle in Johor Perling. His wife is one of the friend of his tenant in KL, that is how he met his wife. His wife is come from Ipoh. Ir Mau got three children, got one son and two daughter. He obtained his Ir title in the years of 1982.

10am - 12pm:
Short briefing on Tanjung Bin Power Plant operations and the progress of the latest construction project.

Tanjung Bin Power Plant operations site:
- There got 3 unit of boiler.
- Chimney got 200 meter height, 3 steel chimney is cover together by one concrete chimney.
- Boilers are using charcoal powder for burning, there have 15 types of charcoal.
- No black smoke coming out from chimney, due to ash all transfer to ash pond.
- each unit of turbine generating 700 MW of electricity.

The progress of the latest construction project.
- They are going to build another unit of boiler.
- Bolier are supply by Japanese company, but made in China.
- Turbine is supply by ALSTOM.
- Turbine generating 1000 MW of electricity.
- They are going to build another new ash pond, the ash in the water will be harder and sink down in the pond.

12pm - 12:30pm: Visit to project site.
- Tanjung Bin Power Plant operations site & the progress of the latest construction project.

12:30pm: End of visit.
Puan Lina starting to distribute the certificate of participation to all of us inside the bus.
The certificate is sigh by Ir. Derek Cheah Kong Yew.

12:30pm - 2:10pm:
Depart from Tanjung Bin Power Plant to IEM Southern Branch Secretariat office.

2:25pm, took public bus from Plaza Pelangi to JB Sentral. The bus fare is RM 1.30.
Remark: I purposely not driving my car due to not sure how long is the technical visit taken. And also I don't want to waste money on placing 6 hours parking coupon in my car.

2:37pm, went to Public Bank building to do some money transaction.
Then, went to Maybank City Square.

3pm - 3:11pm, went to IT ROO CAFE SDN. BHD. to eat fried rice (RM 7.50) as late lunch. Their fried rice taste is terrible, but the prawn in fired rice is bigger. Anyway, their signature dish is still the chicken chop. After eating fried rice, I went to nearby Chinese operating coffee shop to eat half-boiled egg and milo ice. It cost me RM 5 (RM 2.60 + RM 2.40).

3:35pm, I took JB free shuttle bus from MBJB/Pos Malaysia HQ to City Square.

3:50pm - 4:35pm, took public bus no. 39 from City Square to Seri Alam. The bus fare is RM 3.40.

5pm - 8pm, take some rest.

8pm, eating my late dinner.