Hyundai Heavy wins Pakistan wind power contract

HHI calls Gunsan Korea’s largest wind turbine factory, with annual production capacity of 600MW. The company aims to complete the Pakistani wind farm by midyear.

The plant will produce enough electricity for 60,000 households, helping mitigate chronic power shortages in the area. HHI is partnering with Pakistani industrial conglomerate Yunus Brothers Group to build the plant.

A consortium between Korean Southern Power Co, Hyundai Engineering Co and Hyundai Corp holds a 49% stake in Yuna Project, a special purpose company behind the new plant.

Yunus Brothers holds the remaining stake. HHI says it foresees great opportunity in Pakistan. "The country has 1046 kilometres of coast with an average wind speed of seven metres per second," it claims.

HHI earlier partnered with fellow Korean firm Hyosung to produce wind turbines and the companies have voiced plans to install about 100 2MW on- and offshore turbines across Korea by 2012.

Korea Southern Power is to oversee power distribution. Hyosung recently said it signed a $39.8 million contract with India’s Ghodawat Energy to supply an undisclosed number of 1.65 MW wind turbine gearboxes to 2013.

Korea is quickly expanding its profile on the wind power stage. Shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and industrial conglomerate Hyosung are leading a consortium to manufacture turbines and develop wind plant. HHI is constructing a wind turbine factory in Gunsan City, on Korea’s western coast, due for completion in February.

HHI is partnering with Hyosung to produce wind turbines and recently obtained a licence from Canadian wind turbine manufacturer AAER to manufacture a 1.65 MW model. Stepping up their technology, the Korean firms hope to install about 100, 2 MW onshore and offshore turbines across the country by 2012.

Korea Southern Power will oversee power distribution. HHI, whose mainstay shipbuilding business has recently suffered a plummet in new orders and is threatened by Chinese competitors offering lower prices, hopes to gain experience in the Korean wind power market before a push into overseas markets.

India’s Ghodawat Energy (GEL) has signed an $39.8million contract with Korea’s Hyosung Power & Industrial Systems Performance Group, a textile and heavy machinery conglomerate, to supply 1.65MW wind turbine gearboxes until 2013.

english.hhi.co.kr