By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter
The Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), a state-run power firm, said Wednesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kazakhstan’s energy company for electricity projects worth some $500 million (roughly 473.6 billion won).
The firm signed a preliminary deal with the Central Asian Power Energy Co. in Seoul with the chief executives of the two companies on hand.
Under the MOU, KEPCO will jointly take part in energy projects in Astana City, the capital of the Central Asian country, involving the expansion of a 360MW plant to a 600MW one and build a new 240MW plant.
The officials of the power firm expected that the latest deal would serve as a catalyst to advance to the electricity market of Kazakhstan, which plans to invest a total of $10.5 billion by 2015 to modernize its electricity facilities.
``We have enormous business opportunities in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan,’’ KEPCO President and CEO Lee Won-gul said. ``We will make further efforts to develop new business models that fit the region.’’
KEPCO is scheduled to start construction of a 750MW thermal power station in Azerbaijan. It has recently stepped up efforts for global management, eyeing many regions including Africa as well as Southeast Asia and Central Asia.