MHI has received an order from EGAT Public Company Limited (EGAT Plc.), a state-owned utility company of Thailand, to supply a package of major equipment for a 750MW gas turbine combined-cycle (GTCC) power generation facility to be fired by natural gas. In an environment of favorable economic growth, the Thai government is currently carrying out a program to increase the nation's electricity supply by an average 5% per year, and construction of the new plant is part of that initiative. The plant is scheduled to go on-stream in October 2008.

The new GTCC facility will be built at EGAT Plc's South Bangkok power plant site located approximately 15 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. It will consist of two M701F gas turbines, a steam turbine, two heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) and three generators. MHI will be responsible for the design and manufacture of the gas and steam turbines and HRSGs, the core equipment of the facility. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation will build the generators. Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Public Company Limited (STECON), a local contractor, will be in charge of civil and installation works.

Prior to this latest order from EGAT Plc., in March 2005 MHI received an order for the supply of a similar natural gas-fired GTCC power plant (700MW × 2) from Ratchaburi Power Company Limited (RPCL), one of Thailand's newly established independent power producers (IPP). That plant is currently under construction and slated to go into operation in 2008.

MHI has delivered many power plants since 1980's and their total power generation capacity accounts 40% of Thai power generation, aggregating 14,000 MW. MHI believes recognition of the high reliability and efficiency of these power plants contributed to the decisions of EGAT to select MHI, on the heels of RPCL order.

With GTCC type power generation, gas and steam turbines are used in combination to generate electricity in two stages, utilizing high-temperature exhaust gas from the gas turbine. This configuration enables GTCC power plants to achieve high thermal efficiency. High efficiency means that GTCC plants can reduce fuel consumption relative to electricity output and emit less CO2, thus making them more environmentally friendly.

MHI has already delivered numerous GTCC power plants, winning worldwide acclaim for its technology and operational reliability. Going forward, the company will further strengthen its marketing activities in Southeast Asia, where demand for electricity is particularly robust.