International Power

International Power is an independent power generation company that was founded in 2000.

Power generation is the company’s primary interest but the company is also involved in:

• wholesale production of fresh water through seawater desalination
• production and distribution of steam
• district heating via cogeneration
• an electricity retail business
• open-cast coal mining
• gas transportation
• renewable energy

International Power plc has interests in over 30,000 MW (gross) of power generating capacity that are located in 20 countries around the world. The main plants they operate in include:

• North America - Texas: Midlothian I and II, Texas: Hays, Texas: Oyster Creek, Texas: Coleto Creek, Massachusetts: Milford, Massachusetts: Blackstone, Massachusetts: Bellingham and Georgia: Hartwell
• Europe - United Kingdom: Deeside, United Kingdom: Derwent, United Kingdom: First Hydro, United Kingdom: Indian Queens, United Kingdom: Rugeley, United Kingdom: Saltend, Portugal: Pego, Portugal: Turbogas, Italy: ISAB, Czech Republic: International Power Opatovice
• Asia - Pakistan: Hub Power Company (HUBCO), Pakistan: Kot Addu Power Company (KAPCO), Pakistan: Uch, Indonesia: Paiton, Thailand: Pluak Daeng

Other natural resource plants include Spain: Spanish Hydro, the International Power European Wind Portfolio in Germany France Netherlands and Italy and South Australia: Canunda wind farm.

History of International Power

Before the 1990’s there was only one nationalised organisation responsible for generating and transmitting the bulk supply of electricity in England and Wales. This was Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). However in 1990 this was split into three generation companies: National Power, PowerGen and Nuclear Electric, and a single high voltage transmission company: National Grid. National Power and PowerGen were floated on the London stock exchange in 1991.

In 1992 pressure mounted on National Power to reduce its market share, so the generation market starts to fragment and the number of power station operators in England and Wales increases from 7 in 1990 to over 40 in 2003. National Power was then privatised and started investment in overseas privatisation programmes. The international investment led to National Power’s demerger in 2000.

April 1999 saw the board announce a review of its business and strategy that would lead to the creation of two separate and focussed entities. It also highlighted the potential of the international business for strong sustained growth. And thus in April 2000 the UK business Innogy / Npower was spun off, and National Power is renamed International Power. International Power was listed on the London Stock Exchange on 2 October 2000.