KEPCO E&C’s completion of the CIPREL IV Volet B EPC project in Cote d'Ivoire has laid the groundwork for the company’s expanding the overseas market. The Korean power company held a ceremony to dedicate the project the in African country on Feb. 17. Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara’s presence there indicated high expectations the completion of the expansion project will likely greatly ease a chronic power shortage facing the African country.
The dedication ceremony took place after KEPCO E&C successfully carried out the project, launched in September 2013. The existing 110MW-class gas turbine plant was transformed into a combined cycle power with additional installation of two heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs), a steam turbine, and one After Quenching Chamber (AQC) boiler.
KEPCO E&C successfully conducted the trial operation of each unit, including water pressure testing; chemical cleaning; turbine lube oil flushing; testing on the water supply system; condensate water system, and finally a steam blowout. KEPCO E&C has also reached the milestone of 4 million hours without a single safety accident since the project was launched in 2013.
KEPCO E&C has been stepping on the gas to expand the overseas EPC business by making the most of the engineering expertise and experiences the company has accumulated while conducting power plant projects in Korea. This scheme has paid off: KEPCO E&C was awarded power generation plant EPC projects in Ghana in 2011 and in Cote d'Ivoire in 2013.
It takes on significance that the power company’s successful completion of the CIPREL IV Volet B EPC project has proven its capability to perform EPC projects ranging from its conventional engineering technology to a process of constructing power generation plants on an international stage.
The overseas EPC business, which is closely related to KEPCO E&C’s conventional businesses, has emerged as one of the future growth engines for KEPCO E&C, which is trying to diversify its business portfolios for a sustainable growth.
Joint Market Entry with Other Korean Firms
The CIPREL IV Volet B EPC project is characterized with KEPCO E&C’s joint entry with the market with Korean SMEs. The power company was responsible for overseeing the project, while Korea District Heating Engineering Co. was charged with electric generation design. Halla played a cooperative partnership with KEPCO E&C for civil engineering and construction. DKME and other SMEs were also involved in the project.
The CIPREL IV Volet B EPC project has served as an opportunity for KEPCO E&C to secure precious experience in overcoming environmental restrictions and special conditions of the overseas power plant market, raising the possibility of making future projects a success, a KEPCO E&C official said. KEPCO E&C plans to accelerate its efforts to explore the power generation EPC markets in Africa and Southeast Asia, he added.
KEPCO E&C’s Wins Comprehensive Design Contract for Shin Hanul Units 3&4
KEPCO E&C has been awarded a comprehensive design contract for Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Units 3 & 4. The value of the contract, signed on March 18, is 467.2 billion won.
Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Units 3 & 4 are the fourth Advanced Power Reactor 1400 (APR1400) units to be built in Korea, following Shin Kori Nuclear Power Units 3 &4. Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Unit 1 & 2 and Shin Kori Units 5 & 6. The APP1400 reactor has seen power production rise from 1000MW to1400MW and lifespan increase from 40 years to 60 years in comparison with the conventional OPR1000.
The APP1400 reactor is the same one the nuclear power units being built in the United Arab Emirates employ.
Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Units 3 & 4, to be located at Deokcheon-ni, Buk-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, are to be dedicated by December 2022 and December 2023, respectively.
‘2016, 1st Year for Making a 2nd Take-Off’
In his New Year’s message, KEPCO E&C President & E&C Park Koo-woun called for substantial management, technology innovation and the strengthening of project performance capabilities.
President Park said, “The year 2016 should be the first year for making a 2nd take-off with a constant mindset with a benevolent and humbled attitude.”
He called for KEPCO E&C’s to build capability as a public entity to create sustainable and feasible outcomes.
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