Japan’s ageing Higashi Niigata units mothballed

• 3 years ago (2021-04-01)
• David Flin

Asia 847 Gas 371

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Japanese utility Tohoku Electric Power has mothballed the oil- and gas-fired 350 MW Minato No 1 and No 2 units at its Higashi Niigata power plant in Japan’s northwestern Niigata prefecture. Tohoku has not yet said whether it plans to close the units permanently or replace them with newer technologies such as CCGTs. Tohoku has said it may well decommission the units, but has not yet given a timescale.

The No 1 and No 2 Minato units started operations in 1972 and 1975 respectively.

Tohoku is rationalising its thermal power generation fleet by introducing new technologies such as CCGT and ultra-super critical (USC) units, while mothballing or scrapping ageing units with lower profitability and a higher environmental burden.