Saemangeum CHP power station

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Saemangeum CHP power station (새만금발전소) is an operating power station of at least 304-megawatts (MW) in Gunsan, Soryong, North Jeolla, South Korea. It is also known as OCI SE, 새만금발전소, Saemangeum Collective Energy Facility.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Saemangeum CHP power station Gunsan, Soryong, Gunsan, North Jeolla, South Korea 35.93788, 126.56613 (exact)
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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Unit 1, Unit 2: 35.93788, 126.56613

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology CHP Start year Emergency/Backup
Unit 1 Operating coal: unknown, bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids)[1] 152 subcritical yes 2016 False
Unit 2 Operating coal: unknown, bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids)[1] 152 subcritical yes 2016 False

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner Parent
Unit 1 OCI SE Co Ltd [100%] OCI Holdings Co Ltd [100.0%]
Unit 2 OCI SE Co Ltd [100%] OCI Holdings Co Ltd [100.0%]

Project-level captive use details

  • Captive industry use (heat or power): power
  • Captive industry: Machinery


Project-level coal details

  • Coal source(s): imported

Ownership Tree

This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

Background

In July 2012, OCI established OCI SE to construct a cogeneration power plant within the Saemangeum Industrial Complex in Gunsan City, North Jeolla.[2][3][4]

In May 2012, in a bid to attract investments at the Complex, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance had revised a law to allow the construction of a cogeneration power plant.[5]

In October 2013, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction announced that it had signed a contract worth US $470 million to construct the Saemangeum Collective Energy Facility. The project would involve the construction of a coal fired thermal power plant at the Saemangeum Industrial Complex Zone 2. The power plant was projected to have an electricity output of 304MW (152MW x 2 units), with a planned completion date of March 2016.[6]

The plant was completed in April 2016.[7]

The company's website claims the plant uses "best available techniques (BAT) to minimize the generation of Sulfur Oxides, Nitrogen, dust, etc." and that "OCI SE acquires REC through co-combustion of wood pallets." In addition, there were plans to expand the heat supply system capable of district cooling and heating to distant areas.[2] According to company reports from 2023 and 2024, the power station was co-firing with up to 50% wood pellets.[8][9]

Financing

In December 2013, a financing agreement was closed.[10] At least KRW 344 billion (US$310 million) in loans were raised to fund the project. Groups providing debt financing for the project included:

  • Korea Development Bank (KDB): KRW 17 billion (US$15.3 million)[10]
  • KDB Life Insurance: KRW 79.6 billion (US$71.6 million)[11]
  • Nonghyup Life Insurance: KRW 10 billion (US$9 million)[10]
  • Nonghyup Bank: KRW 20 billion (US$18 million)[10]
  • Industrial Bank of Korea: KRW 55 billion (US$49.5 million)[10]
  • Heungkuk Life Insurance: KRW 52 billion (US$46.8 million)[11]
  • Kyobo Life Insurance: KRW 66.2 billion (US$59.6 million)[11]
  • NH Bank: KRW 9.5 billion (US$8.55 million)[11]
  • Shinhan Bank: KRW 35.4 billion (US$31.9 million)[11]

In October 2015, a refinancing agreement was closed for US$311.7 million in loans, but the financiers were not disclosed.[10]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.gem.wiki/Coal_source_methodology_for_the_Global_Coal_Plant_Tracker. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Cogeneration Power Plant," OCI, accessed November 2021
  3. ↑ "OCISE(주)," Google Maps, accessed November 2021
  4. ↑ "Subsidiaries," OCI, accessed November 2021
  5. ↑ "OCI breaks ground for North Jeolla power plant," Korean Herald, October 21, 2013
  6. ↑ "Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Wins US$ 470 million Project to Construct Saemangeum Collective Energy Facility," Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, October 1, 2013
  7. ↑ "Coal-fired Plants in South Korea," Industcards, accessed June 2016
  8. ↑ Business Review, OCI Holdings, 2023
  9. ↑ "2024 Integrated Report - Business Overview," OCI Holdings, July 2025
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 "Financing Dirty Energy," Solutions for Our Climate, January 2018
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Tracing 12 Years of Korea’s Coal Finance Addiction," Korea Sustainability Investing Forum, January 2021

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.