State-run Korea Electric Power Corp., the nation’s top utility company, held a groundbreaking ceremony for its first solar energy power plant construction project overseas in Hokkaido, Japan, on Monday, KEPCO officials said.

“Initiating solar energy generation business in Hokkaido is a great achievement. We’ll continue to expand our solar energy business abroad along with other Korean companies,” said KEPCO CEO Cho Hwan-eik.

The firm plans to complete the 28-megawatt solar power plant in Chitose, Hokkaido, by 2017.

KEPCO’s first overseas solar power project is a build-own-operate contract, with the firm granted all the rights, the company said.

The power corporation will run solar energy generators in Hokkaido for the next 25 years, selling electricity valued at 317.4 billion won ($280 million), which will offer KEPCO about 64 billion won dividend income.

In addition, KEPCO will hire 13 Korean power equipment and material makers including LSIS, a leading electrical component manufacturer here, as suppliers.

As to the latest renewable power projects overseas, KEPCO won an order from Jordan’s National Electric Power Company to build an 89.1 megawatt-class wind power plant in the Fujeij area.

By Hong Sung-pyo (hong1@heraldcorp.com)