PUTRAJAYA (Feb 20): Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) said in a statement today, that comments by Tony Pua regarding tender for the 2,000 MW greenfield coal-fired plant, or Project 3B, was baseless and mere speculation.

Kettha said that the awarding of the plant, on the contrary, had not started yet, and would be announced soon.

"The Energy Commission will make the announcement, in due course.

"The process is transparent, in line with the competitive bidding system that has been put in place, for the bidding of projects by IPPs, which is to ensure, among others, fairness and competitiveness," said the statement.

Pua, who is also Selangor DAP chairman, in his blog recently, said he was worried that if Project 3B ended in the hands of YTL’s closest competitor, 1MDB, it would be because of an unfair decision coloured by political influence, and the rakyat would be paying the price.

The plant is expected to start commercial operations on Oct 17, 2017.

Tenaga-China National Machinery Import & Export Corp, is one of the five bidders, alongside 1MDB-Mitsui & Co, Formis Resources, YTL Power International and Malakoff.