SET-listed BCPG Plc has set aside 8.6 billion baht as an investment budget for business expansion and existing projects in 2019.
President and chief executive Bundit Sapianchai said most of the budget goes to the Lom Ligor wind power plant in Nakhon Si Thammarat, with total installed capacity of 10 megawatts, due to begin operation in the second quarter of 2019.
Another project this year is a collaboration with Chiang Mai University on a smart community project for 12MW from solar rooftops, with a commercial operation date (COD) towards the end of the year.
"BCPG's expansion plan is aimed at sustainability and a high return to shareholders, so it is emphasising all types of renewable power in Thailand and Asia-Pacific, as well as focusing more on power distribution directly to end-users," Mr Bundit said.
Separately, BCPG reported 2018 revenue of 3.32 billion baht, similar to the year-earlier total.
"There was a slight rise in the revenue of solar power plants in Thailand to 2.869 billion baht, a 1% increase from last year, while the operation of solar power plants in Japan brought about 451 million baht, a 6% decrease compared with the previous year," Mr Bundit said. "The drop was due to the solar assets monetisation transaction resulting in no record of revenue in the fourth quarter in 2018. However, the COD of the Gotemba power plant, which started in the second quarter, helped contribute to the total revenue of solar power plants in Japan."
In 2018, BCPG's net profit rose 25% to 2.219 billion baht, enhanced by two main factors: the assets monetisation transaction of two solar power plants to an infrastructure fund in Japan; and the CODs of solar power plants in both Thailand and Japan with a total production capacity of 13MW (9MW in Thailand and 4MW in Japan).
Mr Bundit said 2018's net profit margin was 67% from earnings per share of 1.11 baht, compared with a margin of 53.4% and 0.89 baht per share in 2017.
In addition, BCPG announced a dividend payment to shareholders from the 2018 net profit of 0.64 baht per share or 1.278 billion baht in total.
Mr Bundit said BCPG will disclose its deal for a wind power project soon as it seeks to reach installed capacity of 1,000MW in the next five years from 60MW now in Thailand and the Philippines.
"Of the planned capacity, 70% will be new investment in wind power in Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia, while 30% will go for mergers and acquisitions, focusing on Europe, so wind projects are BCPG's business opportunities around the world," he said. "Wind power has more potential to generate electricity than solar, which is a business trend going to rooftop installations and selling power as a digital energy."
BCPG shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 16.60 baht, up 10 satang, in trade worth 94.4 million baht.