Osaka Gas announced in a statement on Monday that Unit 1 of the Himeji high-efficiency gas turbine combined-cycle power plant had been completed and commenced commercial operation on January 1.
According to Osaka Gas, construction and trial operation of Unit 2 will continue to proceed safely, with commercial operation scheduled to commence in May 2026.
In September 2019, Osaka Gas made a final investment decision to proceed with this approximately 1,200 MW power plant.
The project includes two high-efficiency power generation units (approximately 600 MW per unit) on Idemitsu Kosan’s property and the supply of natural gas as fuel to these units from the Osaka Gas-operated Himeji LNG terminal.
Osaka Gas said the commencement of commercial operation for Units 1 and 2 will increase its domestic thermal power generation capacity from approximately 2 GW to approximately 3.2 GW.
Earlier this year, Osaka Gas and its partners decided to build a new combined-cycle gas turbine power plant in Himeji, Hyogo prefecture.
The CCGT unit will use regasified LNG as fuel, but it will also be able to consume e-methane in the future.
Osaka Gas said the project will be implemented through Himeji Natural Gas Power Generation No. 3, a joint venture of Osaka Gas, Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), SMFL Mirai Partners, and Mizuho Lease.
The unit will have a capacity of 622.6 MW.
Osaka Gas said the partners plan to launch the unit in fiscal 2030.
