CHIAYI, Taiwan - July 22, 2020—Chiahui Power Corporation’s combined-cycle power plant in Chiayi province, Taiwan, has been awarded for Taiwan’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration Agency’s (OSHA) Model Site Award—a top honor for safety protocols—marking the first time a construction site from an IPP project was selected as a model site in Taiwan. The award followed two days on-site best practice sharing event organized by Taiwan’s OSHA and hosted by GE (NYSE: GE), in charge of the construction of the site. The event took place on 2-3 July 2020, with multiple sessions attended by more than 130 visitors and OSHA representatives.
Based on the needs of promoting a healthy and safe workplace, Taiwan OSHA’s tasks include planning and executing occupational safety and health, occupational accidents labor protection, labor inspection and supervision to ensure safe and healthy workforce to enhance national competitiveness.
“We selected Chia Hui Power Plant as a model site for Southern Taiwan for the demonstrated excellence in training management, the permit to work management system and safe lifting operations, which we recommend as a best practice in construction” said Mr. Hsu, Southern Taiwan OSHA Director. “We are pleased to award the project to private sector projects including the Chiahui power plant”.
GE is currently constructing the full turnkey power plant which will be powered by GE’s record-setting 7HA.02 gas turbine. The heart of the plant will comprise of one generating block, equipped with one of GE’s 7HA.02 gas turbines powering an H65 generator, a STF-A650 steam turbine powering an H33 generator, and a heat recovery steam generator.
“In April, 14 months after the commencement of the project, the Chia Hui plant achieved 1 million man-hours without time lost to injury. At GE, safety is of paramount importance and that focus was instrumental in the site receiving the Model Site designation” said Wu Ta-an, Country General Manager GE Gas Power. “We are proud that for the first time a non-Taiwan based company has qualified for the award and that we were recognized for our safety efforts during these challenging times”.
GE’s focus on safety at the site includes initiatives such as the “Stop Work Authority,” which gives power to employees to stop production if they identify a work hazard. In addition, rigorous quarterly audits and a permit-to-work process, activities such as daily site work coordination, toolbox talks, walkdowns, inspections and reward programs are implemented on a regular basis to ensure safety remains top of mind.
The expanded plant, which is planned to begin operation in 2021, will add an additional capacity of 550 megawatts. In Taiwan, GE continues to play a critical role in supporting the advancement of the country’s energy goals, working alongside customers such as Chiahui Corporation. GE is strongly positioned to help the country support its mission to increase natural gas to 50% of the energy mix. The project serves as a significant achievement in supporting the government’s goals to phase out nuclear power, and increase capacity by 30 GW, by 2025.
For more information, contact:
Laura Aresi
Public Relations Leader
GE Gas Power
[email protected]
Zatalin Zulkiply
Communications Leader, Asia
GE Gas Power
+6017 224 5752
[email protected]