It also seeks permission to relocate units, set up 'power parks'

 

By RONNIE LIM

They want permission to outsource, or get third parties, to build, own and operate on their behalf the 'embedded' generating units - as such direct sources of power are called.

Also, as some companies face land constraints for their expansion projects, like on Jurong Island, a second change they want is for such embedded generation units to be located on separate and non-contiguous land sites, albeit on land still owned by them.

Sources had earlier told BT that the petrochemical complexes are looking to buy natural gas to fuel their own cogeneration plants producing the electricity and steam needed.

One industry official said that 'typically, such cogen plants can be 30-50 megawatts', which compares with Keppel Energy's 500-MW power station and SembCorp's 815-MW facility on Jurong Island.

The companies' third proposed change is a 'power park' concept allowing an independent genco to supply electricity directly to a cluster of companies.