WHAUP’s new plant starts operations

WHA Utilities and Power Plc (WHAUP), an arm of Thailand’s largest industrial estate developer and operator WHA Corporation Plc (WHA), has begun operations at its Gulf TS3 power plant, according to the chief executive Wisate Chungwatana.

With the new plant, the company’s total power-generating capacity will reach 478.4 megawatts, of which 63.3MW is still under construction and due start commercial operation in 2018 or 2019.

Mr Wisate said the Gulf TS3 project is a gas-fired co-generation facility, which is classified as a small power producer (SPP).

The project is a joint venture between WHA Energy Co, a 99.99%-owned subsidiary, and Gulf MP Co, with shareholding of 25.01% and 74.99%, respectively.

The project, which has a contracted power capacity of 125MW and a contracted steam capacity of 25 tonnes per hour, is located in Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Rayong province.

Gulf TS3 power plant is the fourth project of the joint venture between WHAUP and Gulf MP, which achieved its commercial operation date in 2017, after that of Gulf VTP Power Plant, Gulf TS1 Power Plant, and Gulf TS2 Power Plant on May 16, July 8 and Sept 1, 2017, respectively.

WHAUP also plans to develop solar rooftop power-generating systems in its industrial zones and warehouses to provide power to clients.

It plans to develop 100MW of powergenerating capacity in the first stage over the next few years from the rooftops of its ready-to-build factories and warehouses with a total area of 2.1 square metres. The project excludes 3 million sq m of warehouse rooftops sold to clients.

WHAUP posted a net profit of 569 million baht in the third quarter of this year, up from 185 million baht in the same period of last year.

For the first nine months of this year (January-September), it had a net profit of 1.5 billion baht, up almost 200% from a net profit of 507 million baht in the same period of last year.

WHAUP shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 7.75 baht, down 20 satang in trade worth 115 million baht.