Malaysian engineering firm Pekat Group Berhad has announced the securing of three subcontract agreements valued at a combined RM57.18 million, covering the design, supply, installation and testing of earthing and lightning protection systems for a hyperscale data centre project in Johor Bahru, Johor. The contracts were awarded to an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the group by a Malaysian private company engaged in engineering, construction services and investment holding, whose identity remains undisclosed due to confidentiality obligations.
The subcontracts are split into three distinct scopes of work. The first, valued at RM27.21 million, involves the supply, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of earthing and lightning protection systems. The second, worth RM4.64 million, covers the supply and installation of similar systems for a substation within the development. The third subcontract, valued at RM25.33 million, encompasses a broader scope including the design, supply, installation and testing of earthing and lightning protection services, as well as the installation of earth mats, associated cabling, copper tapes, joints, terminations, fixings and accessories, along with related civil works tied to the systems installation.
This contract win underscores the accelerating pace of data centre construction in Johor, which has emerged as a key hub for hyperscale digital infrastructure in Southeast Asia, driven by strong regional demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence workloads. The involvement of specialist contractors such as Pekat highlights the growing complexity of building resilient and safely grounded facilities in a region prone to high lightning activity.
According to the group, the first subcontract is targeted for completion by September 2027, while the second and third subcontracts are expected to be finished by February 2027, subject to any extensions of time or variations granted under the terms of the respective agreements. The phased timelines reflect the staged development typical of large-scale data centre projects, where electrical infrastructure and protection systems must align with broader construction milestones.
Industry observers note that the award adds to a growing pipeline of ancillary contracts supporting data centre developments in Malaysia, as international operators and local developers continue to expand capacity in response to rising digitalisation across the region. For Pekat, the project reinforces its position as a niche provider of earthing and lightning protection solutions within the high-growth data centre segment.
Pekat Secures RM57 Million Subcontract for Johor Hyperscale Data Centre Project
By: IDCNOVARegion: Southeast Asia