Dubai, UAE — December 2025 — In a landmark move for Malaysia’s clean energy landscape, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy giant Masdar has forged its inaugural partnership in the country, setting the stage for the largest floating solar project in Southeast Asia.
The company, together with Malaysian partners Citaglobal and Tiza Global, has formally signed a power purchase agreement with national utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad to develop a pioneering 200-megawatt floating photovoltaic plant at the Chereh Dam in Pahang State.
Spanning approximately 950 acres of reservoir surface, the Chereh Dam plant will boast a generation capacity exceeding 300MWp, delivering clean electricity equivalent to the needs of over 100,000 homes, according to the Emirates News Agency.
With an estimated project value surpassing $208 million, this venture represents a significant stride toward Malaysia’s goal of deriving 35 percent of its national energy mix from renewables by 2030.
“This milestone project, our largest floating solar development globally and our inaugural project in Malaysia, reaffirms Masdar’s expertise in floating solar and our position as a trusted partner across the region,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar.
He emphasized the company’s commitment to leveraging its global experience in utility-scale solutions to provide affordable, secure, and clean energy to Malaysia, underscoring a close collaboration with Citaglobal, Tiza Global, and the Government to support the nation’s ambitious energy roadmap.
The consortium secured the project through a competitive tender under Malaysia’s Large Scale Solar Cycle 5+ programme, achieving the lowest tariff in its category, a testament to Masdar’s global supply chain strength and proven regional credentials, which include the 145MW Cirata floating solar plant in Indonesia.
For Citaglobal, the project underscores its role as a long-term national partner in sustainable infrastructure. “By combining Masdar’s global expertise with Citaglobal’s strong local execution capability and institutional understanding, this collaboration gives us confidence that the Chereh floating solar project will be delivered to the highest international standards, while strengthening Malaysia’s energy security and long-term economic resilience,” said Tan Sri Dr. Mohamad Norza Zakaria, Executive Chairman and President of Citaglobal Berhad.
He highlighted the project’s potential to strengthen Malaysia’s energy security and economic resilience.
The Chereh Dam installation marks the first concrete step in a 10-gigawatt renewable energy roadmap agreed between Masdar and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in 2023. Beyond Pahang, Masdar is already progressing a feasibility study for a major floating solar installation at Sarawak’s Murum reservoir in collaboration with Sarawak Energy and Gentari, initiatives aligned with Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap and New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
A core pillar of the Chereh project is deep local integration, evidenced by partnerships such as a Site Agreement with Pahang Water & Energy Resources to ensure seamless execution and long-term operational continuity.
The project will deploy advanced floating solar technology tailored to the dam’s unique topography, optimizing performance and durability while conserving freshwater by reducing evaporation.
Financed through a non-recourse project structure with international lenders, the venture reflects robust market confidence. Floating solar technology, which offers a land-efficient, scalable solution with enhanced efficiency through natural water cooling, is ideally suited to Malaysia’s geography.
As Masdar expands its global portfolio across more than 40 countries, with a mandate to deliver 100GW of clean energy by 2030, the Chereh Dam project stands as a definitive example of how international expertise and local partnership can converge to power national ambitions, turning sunlight on water into a durable engine for sustainable growth.
