Power Plant in Chile
SK Engineering & Construction (SK E&C) began the construction of a coal-fired thermal power plant in Chile worth US$1.2 billion (1.3 trillion won) on Nov. 12.
This project is a construction of two 375 megawatt coal-fired generators on the Pacific coast near the Mejillones region in Antofagasta Province, 1200 km north of Santiago, the capital city of Chile. SK E&C signed a pre-construction contract with Chilean private utility company E-CL and started engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC).
After SK E&C finishes with preparation work next February, including plans for project design and construction, it plans to start construction next March and complete it by the end of 2018. SK E&C will be in charge of the EPC of all the construction facilities including coal boilers of coal-fired generators, steam turbines, a coal-handling system, and a de-sulfurization system. Electricity produced by the facilities will be supplied to large mining companies and electricity distribution companies.
SK E&C was selected as the preferred bidder for the project after fierce competition with Spanish and Italian companies in August last year. In particular, the project received great attention by Chileans, as it is to build a coal-fired thermal power plant with the largest power capacity in Chile, the market of which is mostly monopolized by European companies.