posco AMERICA

POSCO E&C successfully completed Plant 1 synchronization of the Angamos coal fired plant under construction in Chile. The Angamos 520 MW project consists of two plants each with a capacity of 260 MW.

The Angamos coal fired plant is POSCO E&C`s second overseas construction project after the Ventanas power plant to be exclusively implemented by EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) on a turnkey basis.

Synchronization involves the process of delivering and connecting initially produced electricity to the existing power system via transmission lines. The process is significant in that all facility units are closely linked to each other to produce power.

The Angamos coal fired project, devised to provide electricity to the BHP coal mine area in northern Chile, was ordered by AES Group, a globally leading U.S.-based power company.

Construction for Plant 1 commenced in August 2008. Afterwards, boiler steel structures were installed in March 2009 and the plant underwent construction for two years, including turbine generator installation. Following water tap and water pressure pilot testing, POSCO E&C successfully completed boiler synchronizing on Oct. 12 this year.

Plant 1 will undergo generation capacity expansion testing for safety and reliability as well as performance assurance testing prior to launching commercial operations in April 2011. Plant 2 will go through the same process before final completion and commercial operation begins in October 2011.

POSCO E&C is the EPC turnkey lead operator responsible for overall business management, testing and construction for the Angamos coal fired plant project. The boilers used in the plant were manufactured by Doosan Heavy Industries and turbines by Italian company Ansaldo. Other facilities, including coal handling and ash handling systems, fabric filter and SDA have been produced and supplied by POSCO Plantec and other Korean manufacturers.

In addition to the Ventanas and Angamos plants, POSCO E&C is scheduled to construct the Santa Maria power plant in Chile.

POSCO E&C will secure a foothold in the South American power market with two coal fired power plant projects under construction in Peru`s Callpa and Chilca Uno.
By Choi Min-chul
cmc867@poscoenc.com

* POSCO E&C successfully completes Plant 1 synchronization of the Angamos coal fired plant currently under construction in Chile.