23.12.2003 – 11:53

BP plc

euro adhoc: BP PLC
Joint Ventures
SK CORPORATION AND BP JOIN FORCES TO BUILD NEW GAS-FIRED POWER STATION IN KOREA (E)

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December 23, 2003

SK CORPORATION AND BP JOIN FORCES TO BUILD
                 NEW GAS-FIRED POWER STATION IN KOREA

SK Corporation, South Korea's largest oil refiner, and BP p.l.c., one
of the world's leading energy companies, today announced that they
have reached agreement for BP to participate in a new 1,074 megawatt
gas-fired power station in South Korea, due to commence operations in
2006.

Under the agreement signed in Seoul today, BP will acquire a 35 per
cent interest in SK Power, which has begun constructing the power
station in Gwangyang. SK Corporation, which previously owned 100 per
cent of SK Power, will retain a 65 per cent interest. The total cost
of the power station is expected to be in the order of $600 million
(KRW684 billion)

SK Power was established by SK Corporation to develop, finance,
construct, operate and maintain the 1,074 megawatt gas-fired combined
cycle power project located in Kwangyang Province, South Korea. The
project will be located adjacent to an LNG importation facility being
developed by POSCO. The project is the first privately owned
generation facility being developed to compete in Korea's liberalised
electricity generation industry.

This agreement follows the earlier selection of the Tangguh LNG
project in Indonesia as the supplier of up to 1.35 million tonnes per
annum (mtpa) of LNG to SK Power, and POSCO, the world's second
largest steel maker. Negotiations to finalise both contracts are
expected to conclude in early 2004. The power plant will require more
than 0.6 million tonnes of LNG per year.

SK Power has appointed Daelim Industrial Company to act as the
engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project.
 The project will employ GE Power Systems' state-of-the-art MS7001FA
gas turbine technology.

"The combination of SK's leadership in the Korean energy sector with
BP's project development expertise will ensure the unqualified
success of SK Power," said Mr. Young-Duk Park, President of SK Power.

"In addition to looking for a partner with a strong track record in
gas-fired power projects, it was also very important to us to find a
partner who was willing to share in critical project development
efforts and to work closely with SK toward the project's successful
completion and operation. It was for these reasons that we felt that
BP was the right partner for this project," Mr. Park said.

Ralph Alexander, Chief Executive of BP's Gas, Power and Renewables
business said: "BP is delighted with this agreement and is pleased to
be working closely with SK on this venture.  Korea is an increasingly
important gas and power market and participating in this power
station enables us to capture market share ahead of equity gas supply
in one of the world's fastest growing LNG markets. It also provides
us with an opportunity to enter the Korean power
market and to secure an important strategic position for the future.
We look forward to working with our Korean partners to deliver a safe
and successful project for the country and for our shareholders."

Notes to editors:

• SK Corporation holds a material and strategic position in the Korean gas distribution, refining, LPG and power markets. It currently supplies over 3mtpa of city gas (15% of total Korean LNG consumption). SK also sells over 2.6 mtpa of LPG and owns the largest (800,000 barrels a day capacity) single site refinery in the world.
• BP is one of the world's largest energy companies and has gas interests in 28 countries around the world. The company articipates in four of the world's LNG production centres, which supply some 40 per cent of the global market for LNG. BP's activities in Korea include three joint venture chemical companies formed in partnership with the Samsung Group; a Castrol lubricants business; and substantial investments through construction contracts for oil and gas production platforms and LNG ships at large Korean shipyards. The yards have recently completed three LNG vessels and are currently constructing two of the world's largest offshore platforms for fields in the Gulf of Mexico, due to be finished in 2004 and 2005. The total amount spent or committed to date is in excess of $3.0 billion.
• The Tangguh LNG project is operated by BP Berau Ltd., which holds a 37.16% stake in the project, as a PSC contractor to the Indonesian regulator, BPMIGAS. BP's partners in the Tangguh Project are MI Berau B.V (16.30%); CNOOC Ltd. (12.50%); Nippon Oil Exploration Berau (12.23%); BG Group (10.73%); KG Companies (10.0%); and LNG Japan (1.07%).
• The Tangguh project is targeting a two-train start-up development and has already secured an LNG sales contract for 2.6 mtpa for the Fujian LNG project and, most recently, has reached agreement with Sempra for the supply of 3.7 mtpa for North American markets. The Tangguh gas fields contain certified proved reserves of 14.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
• ENDS -

This information is provided by RNS
         The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

end of announcement        euro adhoc 23.12.2003

Further inquiry note:

Further enquiries:

BP: Steve Lawrence (Hong Kong): +852 2586 8917

Ronnie Chappell (London) : +44 (0)20 7496 4324

SK Power: Mr.Sohn, Dong Ha, Public Relations Team, SK Corp:
+82-2-2121-5965/ +82-11-9110-1482.

Branche: Energy
ISIN: GB0007980591
WKN: 850517
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