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Kansai Electric announced on Monday that it has decided to proceed with a renewal project at the Himeji No. 1 power station in Hyogo after conducting a feasibility study.
The Himeji No. 1 power station is an LNG-fired power plant that has been in operation for approximately 30 years.
Kansai Electric said the renewal project is expected to improve power generation efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.
The power plant currently has two LNG-fueled combined cycle units with a total capacity of 1,442 MW.
Launched in April 1995, Unit 5 has a capacity of 729 MW, while Unit 6, which was launched in May 1996, has a capacity of 713 MW.
Both units have a thermal efficiency of approximately 54 percent.
The renewal project includes building three LNG-fueled units with a total capacity of 1,950 MW, and a thermal efficiency of approximately 63 percent.
Each new unit will have a capacity of 850 MW.
Kansai Electric said the company will continue the environmental impact assessment process while taking into account feedback from local communities and relevant administrative authorities, with the aim of commencing commercial operation in or after fiscal year 2033.
According to Kansai Electric’s website, the company operates six power plants and one energy center in Japan.
Besides Himeji No. 1 power station and Himeji No. 2 power station, the company operates the Sakaiko power station, Nanko power station, and the Kansai International Airport energy center, all of which use LNG as fuel.
In December 2023, Kansai Electric scrapped plans to build an LNG power plant in Wakayama.
Kansai Electric operates the Sakai LNG terminal in Osaka and the Himeji LNG terminal in Hyogo.
The company buys LNG from producers around the globe, including from Malaysia, Indonesia, Qatar, the US, and Oman.