OREANDA-NEWS. Kobe Steel, Ltd. will change the name of wholly owned subsidiary Shinko Kobe Power Inc. to Kobelco Power Kobe, Inc. on April 1, 2016. Shinko Kobe Power currently runs an electric power supply business in Kobe. Together with the recently established Kobelco Power Moka, Inc., the new subsidiary will be responsible for Kobe Steel’s electric power supply business.

Shinko Kobe Power Inc. was established in August 2001 as a groundbreaking initiative of Kobe Steel’s electric power supply business. In April 2002, the No. 1 power plant began operation, followed by the No. 2 power plant in April 2004. As the power station is located in the city, careful consideration has been given to environmental measures. The facility has environmental equipment that meets the highest standards in Japan. The total power generation capacity of 1.4 million kW is equivalent to about 70 percent of the electricity used by Kobe City during peak times. Ever since it started up, the facility has been in stable operation for over 10 years.

Under its Fiscal 2013-2015 Medium-Term Business Plan, Kobe Steel is expanding its electric power supply business to secure a stable profit base. In addition to Shinko Kobe Power Inc., Kobe Steel is promoting two new projects in Moka, Tochigi Prefecture and Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. Effective April 1, Kobe Steel will establish a new business segment called the Electric Power Business. Accordingly, Shinko Kobe Power Inc. will change its name to Kobelco Power Kobe, Inc., adding the brand name of the Kobe Steel Group. Kobe Steel will continue to operate the electric power supply business, along with contributing to the stable supply of electric power to the city of Kobe.

Outline of Kobe Steel’s electric power supply business

  (In operation) (Under planning) (Under planning)
Company or project name Kobelco Power Kobe, Inc. Kobelco Power Moka, Inc. Kobe Works Power Plant
(provisional name)
Location 2, Nadahama Higashicho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo
(within Kobe Works)		 15, Kinugaoka Moka, Tochigi 2, Nadahama Higashicho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo
(within Kobe Works)
Fuel Coal City gas Coal
Power generation scale 1,400,000 kW
(700,000 kW x 2)		 1,248,000 kW
(624,000 kW x 2)		 1,300,000 kW
(650,000 kW x 2)
Power generation method Pulverized coal-fired, supercritical pressure power generation (SC) Gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) Pulverized coal-fired, ultra-supercritical pressure power generation (USC)
Start of supply No. 1 unit: April 2002
No. 2 unit: April 2004		 No. 1 unit: 2H 2019
No. 2 unit: 1H 2020		 No. 1 unit: FY2021
No. 2 unit: FY2022