GE Power launches commercial operations of 163 MW plant

GE Power has achieved another milestone with the commencement of the commercial operations of MAX Group’s 163 MW combined-cycle power plant recently.

The power plant is located in Fenchuganj, within the Sylhet division of Bangladesh, said a statement.

Kushiara Power Company Ltd. (KPCL), an entity of MAX Group, received the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) for the supply of electricity generated from this power plant, which will produce the equivalent power needed to supply about 200,000 homes in the region.

“The successful commissioning of the power plant in Fenchuganj is a showcase of our focus on enhancing the local capabilities to match the global standards. We worked with GE Power to bring the best-suited technology for our power plants and the global experience in terms of project execution.” said Ghulam M Alomgir, Founder and Chairman of MAX Group.

MAX Group is the first local Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company in Bangladesh to have completed the commissioning of a combined-cycle power plant using GE’s Power Island technology. MAX Group also owns a 78.5MW simple-cycle power plant in Ghorashal, running on GE’s LM6000 gas turbine.

In 2015,GE Powerhad received the order from KPCLto supply the complete Power Island Engineered Equipment Package (PI-EEP) including one 9E.03 gas turbine, SC2 – 26 steam turbine, Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG), Condenser and Distributed Control System (DCS) for its 163-MW plant. This represents GE Power’s first 9E-based PI-EEP in Bangladesh, imparting maximum power plant efficiency. The heavy-duty 9E gas turbineis known to deliver extraordinary performance even under tough conditions – ranging from -40°F to 120°F, while capable of running on a wide range of fuels – more than 50 types.

“Bangladesh’s power sector is moving up the value chain by embracing the latest technology, wherein the local players have a significant role to play. Today, GE is powering its customers forward to grow faster and stay relevant. Our long-standing association with MAX Group is one such example. Our teams were able to deliver the project in record time, benefitting the customer with significant cost savings.”said Deepesh Nanda, CEO, Gas Power Systems, GE South Asia.

Today, GE’s technology generates one-third of world’s electricity.

In Bangladesh, GE has an installed base of more than 35 gas turbines, generating about 2.2 GW of electricity.

-rmc//