China Energy Investment Corp's Qinzhou power plant has brought its No.3 unit into commercial operation, completing the third-phase expansion and making the facility the largest thermal power plant in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The No.3 unit, built by China Energy Engineering Group's Zhejiang Thermal Power and commissioned by its technology subsidiary, completed a 168-hour full-load trial run on September 7, the company said.

With all four 660 MW units now in operation, the Qinzhou plant's total installed capacity has reached 5.9 GW, making it the largest coal-fired power plant in Guangxi.

Located in the petrochemical industrial park of the Qinzhou port area within the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the project is a key energy infrastructure and a major heat source for the park. It comprises four 660 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired units, equipped with high-efficiency dust removal, desulfurization and denitrification facilities as well as heating pipelines, providing power supply, industrial heating and grid peak-shaving services.

Units 1, 2 and 4, built by China Energy Engineering Group's Tianjin Electric Power Construction and commissioned by the technology subsidiary, began commercial operation in December 2023, April 2024 and August 2026, respectively.

Once fully operational, the third-phase project is expected to generate 13.2 TWh of electricity annually, with a maximum heating capacity of 3,200 tonnes per hour, further enhancing power supply security in Guangxi and heat supply for industries around Qinzhou port.

The third phase will work in tandem with the first two phases to form an integrated operation covering the port, coal, power and heat, supporting the development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and high-quality growth of the marine economy in the Qinzhou port area.