PACO Units 1 and 2
Punta Rincon, Panama
New Coal Plant / 2x150 MW / Colombian Bituminous Coal
Client: SK Engineering & Construction (SK E&C)
Project Highlights:
- Fuel: Colombian bituminous coal
- Size: 2x150 MW
- Major Equipment: Boiler - SeenTec STG - Doosan Skoda Seawater FGD system - Fisia Babcock
- Schedule: 2011 start January 2018 COD
Project Description:
The PACO project consists of two identical 150-MW subcritical coal-fired units and associated steam turbine-generators, located on a greenfield site on the Caribbean coastline of Panama, approximately 130 km west of Panama City. Each unit includes one boiler, one steam turbine-generator (STG), a seawater flue gas desulfurization (FGD) unit, and once-through cooling of the STG exhaust using seawater. The STG units are located indoors.
The design incorporates state-of-the-art equipment, software, and features. SK Engineering & Construction (SK E&C) is developing the plant on an EP (Engineer & Procure) basis for Minera Panama, S.A. (MPSA), who is the plant owner. MPSA is managing the construction and is a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. The plant is being built to supply power for the new Cobre copper mine currently under development.
SK E&C teamed exclusively with Sargent & Lundy, SeenTec, Doosan Skoda, and Fisia Babcock to submit their winning offer for the project. Sargent & Lundy supported SK E&C with development of their technical bid and through the entire bidding phase. The team of is providing the detailed engineering and design for the project.
The power plant will operate primarily at base load and will supply electric power via a 230-kV two-circuit transmission line, to be designed and installed by third parties, to the Cobre copper mining complex under development in an area about 30 km from the PACO project site. This mining complex has a forecasted continuous power demand of about 200 MW. The balance of the net-generated power will be injected into the Panamanian electrical power grid.
The plant is being developed on a site that was covered by dense vegetation, and MPSA, with responsibility for clearing the site and initial grading, had to meet very stringent environmental requirements with respect to removal of flora and fauna. In effect, every animal (including 10-foot-long bushmaster snakes) had to be physically relocated during site clearing operations.
Project Scope:
- Development of technical bid and bid support
- Detailed engineering and design
- Meet stringent environmental requirements