BGRIM Partners with ECV and Siemens Energy to Develop LNG-to-Power Project in Vietnam

Energy Capital Vietnam (ECV), a US-based project holding and development company established in 2015 to serve as a platform for private investment into Vietnam, has announced that B.Grimm Power of Thailand and Siemens Energy have joined its consortium to develop an LNG-to-power project in Mui Ke Ga (MKG), Binh Thuan Province in Southern Vietnam.

B.Grimm Power Public Company Limited (SET: BGRIM) and Energy Capital Vietnam (ECV) have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA), and B.Grimm Power intends to invest approximately $200 million in equity at financial close of the project. B.Grimm Power’s more than 20 years presence in Vietnam and expertise in operating gas fired power plants with a total capacity of more than 2’000 MW will ensure a smooth project implementation as well as reliable and efficient electricity production.

Siemens Energy and ECV have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), as Siemens Energy will deliver advanced technology equipment into the project to reduce the global carbon footprint by bringing cleaner burning gas to a still coal-dominated region. Further, Siemens Energy is evaluating to participate with construction equity to the project, which has an estimated total project cost of $1.75 billion.

 

“The world faces a major challenge to guarantee a sustainable energy supply that meets the enormous and ever increasing demand for energy to support economic development,” said Rich Reisig, Senior Vice President, Project Development and Investment at Siemens Energy. “At the same time, the increasing pace of climate change is pushing us to meet these needs more sustainably with the clear goal of achieving carbon neutrality. If gas helps us build a bridge by reducing CO2 emissions by a good two-thirds compared to coal, while guaranteeing security of supply, then we should use the bridge. Siemens Energy is proud to join ECV’s MKG project, as it is one of the most advanced and sophisticated LNG-to-power projects in Vietnam.”

“B.Grimm Power is excited to work with ECV, Siemens Energy and Maius to deliver the MKG LNG project on time and we welcome the timely issuance of Power Development Plan VIII,” said Dr. Harald Link, Chairman and President of B.Grimm Power. “We find great confidence in the innovative risk mitigation approach applied to the project as a cornerstone for the Vietnamese energy transition. As internationally recognized, LNG is a cleaner, cost-effective fuel alternative to coal. MKG LNG can help the energy transition in Vietnam in accordance with commitments made under the Paris Accords and at COP26.”

David Lewis, ECV Chairman and CEO, said the addition of B.Grimm and Siemens Energy as partners speaks to the strength of the MKG project in Vietnam.

“Partnering with B.Grimm and Siemens Energy bolsters ECV’s first-class LNG-to-power project that will provide critical energy security to Vietnam,” Lewis said. “Beyond world-class engineering competence and efficiency, B.Grimm and Siemens Energy take a comprehensive approach to the development by leveraging global relationships and experience to deliver turnkey solutions. Vietnam represents an untapped market for LNG as the country shifts away from coal and hydro for baseload supply while experiencing annual growth in electricity consumption nearing 10 percent. ECV saw this coming and has been on the ground since 2015 preparing for this energy transition opportunity.”

“Vietnam represents an untapped market for LNG as the country shifts away from coal and hydro for baseload supply while experiencing annual growth in electricity consumption nearing 10 percent. ECV saw this coming and has been on the ground since 2015 preparing for this energy transition opportunity.”

Vietnam is finalizing its Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), which is expected to include ECV’s LNG-to-power project in Mui Ke Ga (MKG) near key manufacturing centers outside of Ho Chi Minh City. ECV signed an MOU with the People’s Committee of Binh Thuan Province in 2019 to develop a fully private, multi-phase LNG-to-power complex and received in-principle approval from the Prime Minister in 2020.

The MKG project will produce up to 3,600 MW of power using 3 MPTA of LNG. The project will utilize a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) to provide the most economical solution for importing LNG and will connect via subsea pipeline to an onshore power complex. The first phase of this project is slated to go into operation in 2025.

“To be part of the clean energy transition and to bring together strategic partners to support the ambitious growth of cleaner energy production in Vietnam, with a fully privately funded project in Vietnam is something we feel strongly about” said Stefan M. Rohmer, Maius GmbH CEO. “We are proud to contribute innovative sourcing solutions from international capital.”

Maius GmbH, a Swiss structuring and project finance advisor, advises ECV on the structuring of its debt and equity, strategic partnerships, and risk mitigation of the project. The solution uniquely integrates insurers, industrial partners and financiers, reducing and sharing the risk, thereby securing a significant reduction in project risk and finance cost.