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In a statement on Monday, Hokuriku Electric announced the start of preliminary work on the LNG-fired Unit 2, a “highly-efficient” gas turbine combined cycle power generation facility.
The unit will have a capacity of 600 MW.
In addition, the utility said it has also started the environmental impact assessment process for the new unit.
The power plant is located next to Hokuriku Electric’s 1.8 mtpa Toyama Shinko LNG import terminal.
This move is part of Hokuriku Electric’s plans to replace aging coal and oil-fired units with gas turbine combined cycle power generation units.
According to Hokuriku Electric, once completed, the LNG-fired Unit 2 is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by about 2 million tons, as the utility aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Hokuriku expects to start construction of the unit in fiscal 2029 and launch operations in fiscal 2033.
The statement shows that Hokoriku Electric previously discontinued operations at two coal and oil-fired units, each with a capacity of 250 MW, at the Toyama Shinko thermal power station.
Also, the utility suspended operations at an oil-fired unit with a capacity of 240 MW.
Currently, the power plant features one 500 MW unit powered by oil and LNG and one LNG-fired unit with a capacity of 420 MW.
Following the completion of the LNG-fired Unit 2 in fiscal 2023, the plant would have a total capacity of about 1.52 GW, according to Hokuriku Electric.
Japan took over China as the world’s largest LNG importer in the first three months of this year.
During January-March, Japan’s LNG imports reached about 17.66 million tonnes, while China’s LNG imports reached 15.51 million tonnes.
Japan imported 65.8 million tonnes of LNG from April 2024 to March 2025, which is up by 1.5 percent compared to the same period before.