Japanese companies target Taiwan's power market

Japanese power firms are making their presence felt in the domestic energy sector by partnering with local firms to build generators and bidding successfully to supply components.

Yokogawa Electric Corp is scheduled to deliver two integrated supply control systems for the Taiwan Power Co's (Taipower, 台電) Taichung Thermal Power Plant -- one in July this year and another is April next year.

The company, which has a presence in 28 countries, won an open bid for the contract late last year. Installation of its advanced integrated production control system, the Centum CS 3000 -- together with field transmitters -- in two 550MW generators will be the first by the company in Taiwan.

Another major power development project involving significant Japanese contribution is the construction of two private power stations independently operated by Star Energy Power Corp (Star Energy) and Sun Ba Power Corp (森霸電力).

The Tokyo Electric Power Co entered into partnerships with these two companies in 2000 and will see power production kickoff by April 2004.

Star Energy will operate a 490MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Changhua County.

Sun Ba will run a 980MW gas-fired combined cycle plant in Tainan County. Construction of the two plants commenced in December 2000. Sun Ba is expected to start the plant's commercial operation in April 2004, according to Brian Hsu (徐崧富), chairman of Sun Ba.