Kobe Works power station
{{#badges:CoalSwarm|Navbar-Japanandcoal}} Kobe power station, also known as Shinko Kobe, is a 1,400-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
An additional 1,300 MW is under development at the same location, also known as Kobe Works.
Contents
Location
The undated satellite photo below shows the existing power station in Kobe.
Background on Kobe
Kobe Works power station is a 2 x 700 MW supercritical coal plant in Kobe. It is owned by Kobe Steel, which established Shinko Kobe Power in August 2001 as an initiative of its electric power supply business. Unit 1 began operation in April 2002, followed by Unit 2 in April 2004. In April 2016 Kobe Steel changed the name of Shinko Kobe Power to Kobelco Power Kobe. All generated power is supplied to Kansai Electric Power Co.[1]
Kobe Works
In 2014 Kobe Steel proposed a coal-fired power station of up to 1,400 MW to power its steelworks factory in the city of Kobe. The company said construction is planned to begin in 2017 and operation in 2021-2.[2][3]
In December 2014 the Japan trade ministry listed the units as 650 MW each, or 1300 MW total, with a planned operation between 2021-2023.[4]
In February 2015 Kobe Steel announced that it was the winning bidder for the tender to supply electricity to Kansai Electric Power. The 1300 MW power station would be constructed within Kobe Works, on land made available after its No. 3 Blast Furnace is shut down in November 2017.[5]
In October 2017 the Hyogo government suspended the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the plant in the wake of Kobe Steel admitting it had falsified certifications on the strength and durability of its metals for at least a decade. No date has been set to resume the EIA process. The Hyogo prefecture does not have the power to stop the project, but its environmental assessment could weigh on an approval from central government.[6]
In March 2018, Japan's environment minister said construction of the plant should not be approved without substantive plans to lessen its greenhouse gas emissions. The environment ministry will convey the opinion to the industry ministry, which will make the final decision on whether to permit construction of the plant.[7]
The EIA was resubmitted in May 2018 and the plant is now under construction.[8] Kobe Steel created a new company to build and operate the plant, Kobelco Power Kobe No. 2, Inc.[9]
In June 2018 a group of nearby residents filed a lawsuit to block further construction of Units 3 and 4 on the grounds that they would increase air pollution and contribute to climate change.[10]
Project Details of Kobe Works
- Sponsor: Kobelco Power Kobe No. 2, Inc.
- Parent Company: Kobe Steel
- Location: Kobe city, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
- Coordinates: 34.703167, 135.239426 (exact)
- Status: Construction
- Capacity: 1,300 MW (Units 3 and 4: 650 MW)
- Type: Ultra-supercritical
- Start date: 2022 (Unit 3); 2023 (Unit 4)[11]
- Coal Type:
- Coal Source:
- Source of financing:
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Power Plant Overview," Kobelco, accessed Nov 2017
- ↑ "神戸製鉄所での石炭火力発電所の増設について," 株式会社神戸製鋼所, 2014/4/25
- ↑ “Operation and Construction Plans of Coal-Fired Thermal Plants in Japan,” Kiko Network, 17 October 2014
- ↑ "Construction plans for Japan's coal power stations," Reuters, Dec 11, 2014
- ↑ "Acceptance of Kobe Steel’s bid for thermal power supply tender," KOBELCO, February 16, 2015
- ↑ Yuka Obayashi, "Citing data scandal, local government delays Kobe Steel coal plant assessment," Reuters, Oct 17, 2017
- ↑ "Minister: Coal-fired thermal plant not acceptable," NHK World, March 22, 2018
- ↑ Kobe Power Plant No.3, Kiko Net, accessed November 2018
- ↑ Financing of electric power supply business in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Kobelco, Aug. 31, 2018
- ↑ Lawsuit filed against Kobe Steel and a Group company, Kobelco, Oct. 3, 2018
- ↑ Communication with Kiko Net, July 2019
