(EnergyAsia, May 3 2011, Tuesday) — The Siemens-Samsung consortium executing the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for Island Power’s project on Singapore’s Jurong Island officially took over the site and started work on April 22.

The EPC contract for the 800MW plant, signed in January 2007 when the project was owned by US-based Intergen, had been suspended until it was lifted by new owner India’s GMR Infrastructure last August.

As Singapore’s first foreign independent power project (IPP), the gas-fired combined cycle plant will feature Siemens’ state-of-the-art turbines which will be one of the most efficient units in the country. Due for completion by end-2013, the plant will be fuelled by regasified LNG.

With five companies employing more than 2,000 people, Siemens is one of the largest European companies in Singapore.