Mitsubishi Power announced it has completed construction of a 1.4-GW natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Thailand, with the second unit of the two-unit station now in commercial operation.
The company, a subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, said the Hin Kong power plant is a joint venture between the RATCH Group and Gulf Energy Development. It features two advanced M701JAC gas turbines.
The power station is located about 60 miles west of Bangkok. The first 700-MW unit came online in March of last year. Mitsubishi Power on Jan. 21 said it will provide long-term maintenance for the turbines under a 25-year service agreement. The project will supply electricity to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand under a long-term power purchase agreement.
Hin Kong is the second major Mitsubishi-equipped gas-fired power plant to come online in Thailand in recent months. Mitsubishi Power in October 2024 completed construction of a 5.3-GW combined-cycle power plant project in the Chonburi and Rayong provinces. That plant has eight units powered by M701JAC gas turbines. That project was built in conjunction with Gulf Energy Development and Mitsui & Co.
Natural Gas Leads Generation in Thailand
Natural gas accounts for about two-thirds of Thailand’s power generation. Including this latest project, Mitsubishi Power has supplied a wide range of equipment, including 22 gas turbines to RATCH and Gulf projects, contributing more than 14 GW of power generation capacity in Thailand.
“This project marks the commercial operation of our tenth M701JAC gas turbine in Thailand, a memorable milestone that we are proud to celebrate together with RATCH and GULF,” said Takao Tsukui, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Power. “Looking ahead, we remain committed to providing continuous support through the 25 years LTSA, ensuring the stable operation of this power plant over the years to come. Building on the success of the Hin Kong Power project, we are eager to further strengthen our partnership and embark on new challenges together.”
RATCH CEO Nitus Voraphonpiput in a statement related to the Hin Kong plant said, “We are proud to celebrate the completion of this critical high-efficiency power plant, which furthers our goal to deliver reliable, sustainable, and efficient energy solutions for Thailand. This plant supports the growing energy demands of the country while ensuring we are future-ready as energy needs evolve. We look forward to strengthening collaboration with our partners to drive Thailand’s energy progress.”
“The on-schedule completion and smooth operation of the plant underscores strong synergy between Gulf, RATCH, and Mitsubishi Power,” said Gulf Energy executive Chaichawin Tantiyankul. “This project plays a significant role in strengthening Thailand’s energy security and supporting economic growth. We are confident that this partnership will continue to drive innovative and efficient energy solutions.”
Mitsubishi Power on Tuesday said orders for the JAC gas turbine “continue to increase, with cumulative orders recently surpassing 100 units in 2024.” The company said the JAC gas turbine “has a combined cycle efficiency greater than 64% and meets stringent standards for reducing carbon emissions. Its operational flexibility, including shorter startup times and superior load-following capability, makes it an essential solution for balancing power demand in grids increasingly reliant on renewable energy sources.”
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
