Himeji Natural Gas Power Plant Units 1 & 2 Commence Commercial Operation

Unit 2 of the Himeji Natural Gas Power Plant (Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture), operated by Himeji Natural Gas Power Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Masataka Fujiwara), commenced commercial operation on May 1, 2026. This marks the start of full-scale operations for both units. A completion ceremony was held on May 18, 2026. The plant has a capacity of 1.2452 million kW (62.26 MW x 2 units), making it the largest natural gas-fired power plant in the Daigas Group. With both units operational, the group's domestic thermal power capacity has expanded from approximately 2 million kW to 3.2 million kW, bringing the total domestic equity power capacity, including renewable energy, to approximately 4.7 million kW. The plant will serve as a core facility for stable power supply. The ceremony was attended by 173 guests, including government officials, local stakeholders, and construction partners. Following a safety prayer, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the completion. CEO Masataka Fujiwara stated, 'As power demand rises due to data center expansion and AI, we expect this plant to contribute significantly to a stable supply.' The plant, which began with Unit 1 in January 2026, now operates as a dual-unit facility. The Himeji area, home to the Himeji Works, has long been a hub for city gas supply; it now adds power supply to its role, becoming a dual energy supply hub. The plant leverages the Daigas Group's expertise in natural gas procurement, ensuring efficient and stable power generation. In recent years, Japan's power landscape has shifted. With decarbonization efforts, coal-fired plants are being phased out, while power demand is rising due to AI and data centers. As renewable energy becomes more prevalent, the need for balancing capacity is increasing. Natural gas power generation is crucial as it has the lowest CO2 emissions among thermal sources and provides the necessary flexibility to balance supply and demand. Plans for Unit 3 are already underway, with a target for commercial operation by the end of fiscal 2030.