Hongsa power unit in Laos passes 90% of efficiency tests, Ratch says
Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding reports that Hongsa Unit 1, a 626-megawatt thermal power plant operated by Hongsa Power Company in Laos, has completed more than 90 per cent of the performance-efficiency tests specified by the power purchase agre
Unit 1 started synchronising with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) power grid on February 28 and has performed efficiency tests according to the PPA’s requirements since mid-March.
During the shutdown of a Myanmar natural-gas field from April 10-19, Hongsa Unit 1 continued the test process, and its average generation since April 12 has been around 450MW. Electricity supplied by the plant helped Thailand’s power system fully serve domestic demand in that critical period. From April 12 to 21, Hongsa Unit 1 generated around 85 million units of electricity, eliminating the need for about 20 million litres of fuel oil to generate power.
Pongdith Potchana, chief executive officer of Ratch, said the 1,878MW lignite-fired Hongsa thermal power plant was regarded as having sufficient capacity to enhance the stability of Thailand’s national power supply and maintain the electricity tariff at an acceptable level. It also appeared that the plant helped supply electricity for peak demand from April 7-21 effectively.
The company is strongly confident that the performance efficiency of Hongsa Unit 1 will meet Egat’s criteria and international standards and will be able to start commercial operation on June 2 as planned.
Meanwhile, the efficiency tests of Hongsa Units 2 and 3 are expected to be completed as scheduled in the PPA and their commercial operations will commence in November 2015 and March 2016 respectively.
Hongsa Power Co is jointly owned by Ratch, Banpu (40 per cent each) and Lao Holding State Enterprise (20 per cent). The first lignite-fired power plant in Laos, this 1,878MW plant in Sainyabuli province comprises three units of 626MW capacity each.
