Bangkok--27 Dec--TRIS Rating TRIS Rating Co., Ltd. has affirmed the rating of the senior secured debentures of Khanom Electricity Generating Co., Ltd. (KEGCO) at “AA-” with “stable” outlook. The rating reflects the company’s solid project fundamentals, its strategic position as a major base load generator in Thailand’s southern region and its proven operational track record. The “stable” outlook reflects TRIS Rating’s expectation that Khanom power plant will continue to achieve its performance targets and will generate stable electricity sales to KEGCO. TRIS Rating reported that KEGCO was established in 1995 to buy the 824-megawatt (MW) Khanom power plant from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) under EGAT’s privatization plan. KEGCO is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Electricity Generating PLC (EGCO), which is 25.4% owned by EGAT. The power station is located in Nakorn Sri Thammarat province in southern Thailand. It consists of two barge-mounted thermal plants (150 MW) and a combined cycle gas turbine (674 MW). TRIS Rating said the 15- to 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between EGAT and KEGCO is well-structured. The pay-if-available payment commitment mitigates KEGCO’s demand risk while the cost-plus basis tariff structure reduces KEGCO’s price risk. KEGCO’s competitive advantages stem from the company’s key location in an area with increasing demand for electricity and its base load generation, which supplies about 50%-60% of total demand in the southern region during 2004-2006. Over the years, KEGCO’s operating performance has been satisfactory. Its availability and plant heat rates since the start of operation have met the performance targets specified in the PPA. The combination of proven technology and experienced staff reduces technology and operating risks. A pass-through component in the energy payment structure limits KEGCO’s exposure to fuel risk. KEGCO’s operating performance during the first nine months of 2007 was satisfactory. The company maintained its power plant availability factor as high as 92.4%. Electricity sales rose from Bt4,339 million in 2005 to Bt5,273 million in 2006 and Bt3,318 million for the first nine months of 2007. The level of outstanding debt fell to Bt4,645 million as of September 2007, and the total debt to capitalization ratio continuously improved from 55.8% in 2005 to 44.0% at the end of September 2007. KEGCO’s debt service coverage ratio of 1.68 times in 2006 was far higher than its minimum requirement of 1.10 times, said TRIS Rating.