Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. has joined hands with the state-run Korea Western Power Co. (KOWEPO) to sell Korea’s first homegrown combined gas turbine overseas.

The gas turbine, built using Doosan Heavy’s proprietary technology, will be deployed in KOWEPO’s cogeneration power plant in Gimpo, Korea and tested through 2023 before venturing into global markets.

The two plan to complete various safety tests by early next year.

Together with Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corp. (KIND), the companies will launch a task force next month to start courting potential buyers. Doosan Heavy would oversee development and technological assistance while KOWEPO would be in charge of maintenance and repair. KIND would finance the project.

Combined cycle gas turbine plants are considered more environmentally-friendly as they use both gas and steam turbines, resulting in less carbon emissions but more efficient electricity generation.

Korea is now one of five countries to have its own homegrown gas turbine, along with the United States, Germany, Japan and Italy. About 96 percent of the market is dominated by American, German and Japanese players.

Doosan Heavy has been rebuilding its business portfolio – from coal and nuclear plants to gas turbines and renewables – after receiving a state bailout of 3.6 trillion won earlier this year to keep its embattled business afloat.

By Baek Sang-kyung and Kim Hyo-jin

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]