Sime Darby Power Co. Ltd. (SPC) (formerly Laem Chabang Power Co., Ltd.) is a company organised under the laws of Thailand and established to construct, own and operate a combined heat and power generating facility and associated equipments in Laem Chabang Industrial Estate.

SPC’s power plant project resides within the SPP programme implemented by the Thai government to enhance the use of cogeneration of power and heat and/or renewable forms of energy for power production.

The commercial operation of the 105 MW and 50 t/h combined cycle gas turbine power plant was achieved on July 16, 2001, when the Company started to sell 60 MW electrical capacity to EGAT under its 21-year Power Purchase Agreement as well as to industrial factories within the Industrial Estate. Currently, 14 electrical and 6 steam customers have been connected with a total contracted capacity of 103.45 MW of electricity and 48.90 tons/hr of medium and low pressure steam.

SPC was established in April 1997 through a joint development between Imatran Voima Oy of Finland (now Fortum Group) and Sri U-Thong Co. Ltd. of Thailand. The company executed a 21-year 60-MW Power Purchase Agreement with EGAT in January 1998 and began construction in October of the following year. A 21-year Gas Supply Agreement was also signed with the fuel supplier, the PTT Public Co. Ltd. in December 1999. Water is supplied by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) who also leases the land for the project. The project received an investment promotion privileges from the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) receiving among others an 8-year 100% plus another 5-year 50% reductions in corporate income tax.

Technical Overview

The Laem Chabang power plant consists of, two PG 6561 B (Frame 6B) gas turbines, two unfired heat recovery steam generators, one steam turbine and auxiliaries necessary to comprise an operational power plant. The maximum electrical output is 110MW in full condensing mode. The maximum steam production capability is around 50 tons/hr in medium and low pressures.

The fuel, natural gas, for the power plant comes via a three-km long 12” underground pipeline, which is connected to the PTT 28” main gas pipeline. There is a metering and pressure reduction station (“M/R station”) situated inside the power plant premises. The gas pipeline is owned by PTT, but the M/R station is owned by the Company. Back-up power supply is provided by PEA through the same 115kV bus bar that LCP sells power to EGAT. In the event of a forced outage, back-up power from PEA automatically comes in to serve the industrial customers.

Distribution Network

The sale of electrical energy to EGAT is sold via a 115-kV underground transmission line through a nearby sub-station operated by the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). Meanwhile, electricity is sold to industrial factories through a network of 115kV and 22kV power cables running throughout the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate. Steam energy is sold at medium and low pressures through a network of pipelines around the estate. Two steam pipelines, a 23-bar 10” diameter pipeline and a 10-bar 14” diameter pipeline delivers steam to the customers. Additionally there is a 3” condensate return pipeline from one medium pressure steam customer.

Sime Darby Power Plant Configuration

• 2 Gas Turbines
• 1 Steam Turbine
• 2 Heat Recover Steam Generators (HRSG)
• Wet Cooling Towers

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