Mitsubishi Power has officially completed its monumental 5.3-gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant project in Thailand, marking a significant milestone in the country’s energy landscape. The multi-phase installation, featuring advanced combined-cycle technology, is now fully operational.
The project comprises two power plants located in the Chonburi and Rayong provinces, which are vital centers for technology manufacturing and services in Thailand. Each facility is equipped with four M701JAC gas turbines, with the eighth and final unit at the Rayong site going online on October 1, 2024. This announcement was made by Mitsubishi on October 9.
Awarded in 2018, the project is a collaborative effort between Gulf Energy Development Public Co. Ltd., one of Thailand’s leading independent power producers, and Japan’s Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
As one of the largest gas-fired power generation installations globally, the project also stands as Mitsubishi Power’s largest order completed by capacity. The seven previously installed turbines have already accumulated approximately 100,000 hours of operational time.
The Chonburi plant, which is managed by Gulf SRC Co. Ltd., saw the first phase of its development completed in 2021, marking Mitsubishi’s inaugural installation of the J-Series Air-Cooled (JAC) gas turbines in Southeast Asia. Full completion of the Chonburi facility occurred in October 2022.
During a ceremony to celebrate the project’s completion, Boonchai Thirati, Deputy CEO of Gulf Energy Development, expressed gratitude for the collective effort that enabled the project to meet its schedule despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated, “We thank all our partners for their excellent performance and look forward to continuing our partnership to deliver stable electricity to communities across Thailand.”
Takao Tsukui, Executive Vice President of Mitsubishi Power, also praised the teamwork that ensured all units were operational on time, emphasizing, “This achievement highlights the unwavering collaboration of everyone involved and is a milestone we take immense pride in.”
As the first JAC gas turbine project in Southeast Asia, Tsukui noted that the Chonburi and Rayong plants have paved the way for Mitsubishi to contract over 90 JAC gas turbines globally. The company has pledged to maintain the facilities under a 25-year long-term service agreement, alongside a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
Mitsubishi Power’s engagement in Thailand dates back several years, with prior equipment supplies to Gulf Energy Development for combined-cycle plants at Nong Saeng and U Thai, which commenced operations in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, in 2020, the company supplied two M701JAC turbines to Hin Kong Power Co. Ltd. for another Gulf Energy Development facility.
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