U.S. energy giant Enron Corp. is planning to build a coal-burning power plant in Fukuoka Prefecture, industry sources said Thursday.
Enron is considering building the site in areas including Omuta city, the sources said.
The plant is expected to be capable of generating 100,000 kw of power for supply to manufacturing factories and other large-lot users.
Japan's retail power sector was partially deregulated in March.
While a Tokyo-based Enron affiliate, E Power Corp., will build the power plant, the project will not start for another three to five years because of necessary procedures, including land purchases and an environmental impact assessment, the sources said.
An E Power official said the site had not been decided upon.
"No final candidate for the plant's location has been picked yet, as surveys are being conducted from Hokkaido to Kyushu," the official said.