In Japan, ITOCHU Corporation (ITOCHU) has announced that the Ichihara Biomass Power Co., Ltd., an operating company founded in September 2017 as a three-way joint venture of ITOCHU, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd (Osaka Gas), and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES), held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Ichihara Biomass Power Plant at the site of MES Chiba Works Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, where the plant is scheduled to be constructed.
According to ITOCHU, it was a large ceremonial event attended by more than 100 guests, including the presidents of the three joint venture partners and representatives of the Development Bank of Japan and Chiba Bank, which will provide project financing.
The 49.9 MWe biomass power generation project will combine the construction and operations/maintenance capabilities of MES, biomass fuel supply from ITOCHU, and operational know-how of power generation facilities of Osaka Gas. Scheduled to begin operations in October 2020, the plant will use palm kernel shells and wood pellets as the main fuel.
