BPP’s 1,000MW Gas-Fired PP Deal in US Closes to Completion

BPP expected the acquisition of a 1,000MW gas-fired power plant in the US to be done in the first half of this year. Also plans to further invest in non-oil energy projects with a combined installed capacity of 200MW to increase its current production capacity to 5,300 by 2025.   

 

Mr. Kirana Limpaphayom, Chief Executive Officer of Banpu Power Public Company Limited (BPP), said the company in 2021 targeted to acquire at least 2 new projects, stating that the acquisition of a gas-fired power plant in the US, with production capacity of approximately 1,000MW, is expected to be completed in the first half of this year. BPP is also considering investments in the form of joint ventures, as well as partnering models for the large-scale power plant projects.

 

The company has secured the capital expenditure amounting to US$200-300 million for investment this year, including the ongoing development project in the US and a combined 100-200MW green energy project. 

 

BPP planned to achieve a target of 5,300MW by 2025 through a five-year business plan and three key strategies as follows: 1) leverage synergy within Banpu group and Banpu ecosystem to access technologies, customer and partner base as well as seamlessly sharing energy expertise, such as expanding the energy trading and energy technology businesses in the potential countries. 

 

2) Seeking investment opportunities in Asia-Pacific countries with economic growth and high demand for electricity by focusing on investing in commercially operated assets that generate instant cash flow or an investment in projects close to completion (Brownfield). 

 

3) Driving growth of renewable energy and energy technology businesses through investments in Banpu NEXT to increase business opportunities in new markets while bringing innovations to further develop Banpu Power’s power generation process.

 

Mr. Kirana said that this year BPP is set to commence the COD of Kesennuma solar power plant and Shirakawa solar power plant in Japan with a combined installed capacity of 30MW and Vinh Chau wind farm phase 1 in Vietnam with a production capacity of 30MW.

 

He also highlighted that five years from now, BPP will focus on maximizing operational efficiency and cost management of power plants in order to perform a power generation as targeted under the Greener & Smarter strategy.

 

This strategy will focus on investing in operating assets and projects that are close to completion and are utilizing High Efficiency, Low Emissions (HELE) technologies to deliver cleaner electricity more efficiently. 

 

In addition, BPP is also interested in the 30,000MW solar farm project of the Royal Thai Army, and is still waiting for an all-clear from the authorities.