Nonthaburi - Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Limited (RATCH) moves forward the development of the 226.8-MW Collector Wind Farm, located in New South Wales, Australia after RATCH-Australia Corporation Pty Ltd (RAC), the wholly-owned subsidiary, signed the 179-million-Australian Dollar loan agreement (or approximately to 4.117 billion baht) with Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), one of Australian financial institutions on March 19, 2019. As a result, RATCH’s generation capacity in Australia will reach 1,100.35 megawatts.

Mr. Kijja Sripatthangkura, RATCH CEO, said the Collector Wind Farm project costs around 359 million Australian Dollar. Out of the amount, 180-million-Australian Dollar (or around 4.140 billion Baht) will be funded by the company’s capital. The achievement of the loan facility enables the project to start construction phase around the mid-2019 and the commercial operation is scheduled in 2020. The generated electricity will be distributed via the Merchant Market in Australia.

Collector Wind Farm is relatively a large-scale renewable project after 180.45-MW Mount Emerald Wind Farm in Australia. The Australian government has a clear policy in earnestly promoting the renewable project development and simultaneously strengthening power security for serving more renewable power dispatch. The financial support of CEFC, the state agency providing lending service for renewable project in Australia, reinforces the government’s policy implementation and its confidence in the Collector project. Consequently, not only RAC’s generation capacity has increased to 1,100.35 megawatts, but it also responds RATCH’s renewable capacity target of 20% of the 10,000-MW goal by 2023. Driving from the project, RATCH’s total equity capacity of operating and under developing and construction projects reaches 7,866 megawatts, of which 895 megawatts is renewable capacity, representing 11.4%,” Mr. Kijja added.

RATCH-Australia Corporation Pty Ltd is RATCH’s wholly-owned subsidiary which now invest in nine projects, including 315.20-MW Kemerton Power Plant, 234-MW Townsville Power Plant, 118-MW BP Kwinana Power Plant (RAC holding 30% stake), 12-MW Windy Hill Wind Farm, 21-MW Toora Wind Farm, 33-MW Starfish Hill Wind Farm and 180.45-MW Mount Emerald Wind Farm, 42.5-MW Collinsville Solar Farm and 226.8-MW Collector Wind Farm.