Thailand's Gulf Energy has launched operations at a 5,300MW gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) plant on 1 October, Japanese energy solutions firm Mitsubishi Power said today.
Mitsubishi Power, which was in charge of building the gas-fired power plant, also completed the eighth and final unit of the power plant today. This marked Mitsubishi Power's largest ever completed order by capacity, according to the firm.
The plant's other seven existing units have been installed progressively since 2018 and have collectively logged 100,000 actual operating hours.The plant is a joint venture between Gulf Energy, Thailand's largest independent power producer and part of the Gulf Group, and Japanese trading firm Mitsui.
This is the second plant to be put into operation, marking the completion of a multi-phase project that was first awarded to Mitsubishi Power in 2018. This comprised two GTCC plants in Thailand provinces Chonburi and Rayong, and consists of a total of eight units. The project was also successfully completed on time, despite delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020.
This power plant project is part of Thailand's initiative to decarbonise its energy sources and secure energy security. Mitsubishi Power was also awarded an order to build a GTCC plant in 2020 by Hin Kong Power, another Gulf Energy joint venture.
The increase in the country's demand for LNG imports could be minimal for now, with some focus on relying more on domestic gas production. Thailand's state-controlled upstream firm PTTEP has highlighted ramping up gas production at the country's largest and oldest Erawan field as key to reducing its import reliance. But declining production at other smaller gas fields in the country may eventually compel Thailand to step up LNG imports to make up for the resultant shortfall.
