Nonthaburi - Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Limited (RATCH) reported that 626-MW Hongsa thermal power plant unit 1 operated by Hongsa Power Company Limited (HPC) has completed over 90% of performance efficiency test specified by the power purchase agreement (PPA). Its commercial operation will be commenced on 2 June 2015 as scheduled.

The Hongsa power plant unit 1 has started synchronization of its generation to the power grid of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) since 28 February and performed efficiency test according to PPA's requirement since mid-March.  In the event of Myanmar natural gas field shutdown during 10-19 April, Hongsa unit 1 has continued the test process and its average generation since 12 April has been operated around 450 MW. Electricity supplied by the plant helped Thailand power system fully serving domestic power demand in that critical period. From 12 to 21 April 2015, Hongsa unit 1 generated around 85 million units of electricity supporting reduction of 20 million-litre fuel oil approximately in electricity generating.          

Mr. Pongdith Potchana, Chief Executive Officer of RATCH, said that the 1,878-MW Lignite-fired Hongsa thermal power plant was regarded as a large power base load that can enhance the national power stability and maintain the electricity tariff at acceptable level. It also appeared that the plant helped supply electricity for peak demand on 7 and 21 April 2015 effectively. The company is strongly confident that the performance efficiency of Hongsa power plant unit 1 will certainly meet the EGAT’s criteria and international standards and will be able to start commercial operation on 2 June 2015 as planned. Meanwhile, the efficiency test of Hongsa power plant unit 2 and 3 are expected to finish as scheduled in PPA and their commercial operations will commence on November 2015 and March 2016 respectively.   

Hongsa lignite mine-mouth thermal power plant is a joint project under operation of Hongsa Power Company Limited where RATCH, Banpu Public Company Limited and Lao Holding State Enterprise co-owned its equity stake of 40%-40%-20% respectively. Regarded as the first and largest lignite-fired power plant in Lao PDR, this 1,878-MW power plant located in Sayaboury Province, comprises of 3 units with 626 MW capacity each.