Sembcorp signs agreement to develop the largest gas-fired independent power plant in Myanmar

Sembcorp Industries has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sembcorp Utilities, has signed a memorandum of agreement with Myanmar’s Department of Electric Power Planning (DEPP), under the Ministry of Electric Power of Myanmar (MOEP), to invest in and develop a 225 MW gas-fired power plant in central Myanmar.

The agreement was signed by Tan Cheng Guan, Executive Vice President & Head of Group Business Development & Commercial of Sembcorp Industries, and U Khin Maung Win, Director General of DEPP. It was conducted in the presence of senior government officials of Myanmar.

Located in the Myingyan district of the Mandalay division, the US$300 million power plant is set to be the largest gas-fired independent power plant in Myanmar. When completed, the new facility will help to ease the country’s severe power deficit.

The build-operate-transfer project was awarded after an international bidding process called by Myanma Electric Power Enterprise (MEPE), a division under MOEP, and advised by International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group. Sembcorp will have an 80% stake in this project, while its partner MMID Utilities will hold the remaining 20%. Expected to be completed in 2018, the project will supply power to MEPE under a 22-year power purchase agreement (PPA), with MOEP guaranteeing MEPE’s obligations under the PPA.

Mr Tan said: “Sembcorp is pleased to be embarking on this project, which is our first investment in Myanmar. This new facility will provide a reliable source of power which is integral to the country’s economic development. At the same time, it gives us a foothold to potentially develop other businesses in the country, such as water and urban development. We look forward to working closely with MOEP on this project.”

Sembcorp Myingyan Power Company is to undertake the development of this project. The total project investment of approximately US$300 million is anticipated to be funded through a mix of limited recourse project financing and equity. Financial close of the project is expected in the 1H16.

This signing of the agreement is not expected to have a material impact on the earnings per share and net asset value per share of Sembcorp Industries for the financial year ending 31 December 2015.

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/07122015/sembcorp-utilities-to-invest-in-myanmar-1900/