May 30, (RECHARGE) -- The government of Malaysia has awarded an $11.5m grant to developer Tawau Green Energy to help finance construction of access roads and other infrastructure to support the 30MW Apas Kiri geothermal energy project.

The grant money will be disbursed by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Behrad (BPMB), a development bank owned by the state.

Apas Kiri will be Malaysia’s first geothermal project and is expected to begin commercial operation by early 2015. It is located in the southern portion of the State of Sabah near the city of Tawau.

TGE Geotechnical Director Richard L. McAdoo praised officials in both the national and state governments for their commitment to utilizing renewable energy to help solve electricity shortages in Sabah.

“This kind of fiscal incentive is essential to any green field renewable energy project's success,” he says.