Thai EGCO's unit plans $37 mln second solar power plant

BANGKOK, July 28 (Reuters) - Thailand's second-largest private power firm, Electricity Generating Pcl EGCO.BK, said its affiliated Natural Energy Development Co would send $37 1.2 nillion baht ($37 million) on a second solar power plant.

The 11-megawatt power plant was an expansion from its previously-announced plan to build a 73-megawatt solar power plant in Lopburi province, one of the world's largest solar energy projects, EGCO President Vinit Tangnoi told reporters.

The second solar power plant would add more capacity from the renewable source to 84 megawatts, he said on Wednesday.

Natural Energy is a joint venture between EGCO, Diamond Generating Asia Ltd, a unit of Japan's Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T), and CLP Thailand Renewables Ltd, a unit of Hong Kong-based CLP Holdings Ltd (0002.HK) with holding of 33.33 percent each.

Earlier this month, Vinit said the construction of the $250 million first solar power plant would begin in the third quarter and be completed by November 2012, with the first phase of 8-MW power coming on stream in June 2011.

EGCO has interests in 14 power plants in Thailand, Laos and the Philippines with a combined capacity of about 4,277 MW, accounting for about 12 percent of Thailand's generating capacity. ($1=32.19 Baht) (Reporting by Pisit Changplayngam; Writing by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Jason Szep)