Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is the only state in Malaysia to boast of having a geothermal green energy power generation potential.
This geothermal source was first discovered in Apas Kiri, Tawau during 2008-2009 by the Minerals and Geoscience Department. Its location, within Mount Andrassy Forest Reserve and Tawau Hills Park with surface springs spewing deep underlying neutral chloride fluid rising and outflowing with temperature of about 200°C.
A RM35 million grant from the Public-Private Partnership Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department made it possible to start this first such project of a geothermal power plant. Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd secured an exploration concession to further develop the geothermal power generation potential with its Tawau Geothermal Project being the first geothermal power plant in Malaysia as an Independent Power Plant.