“ GE is committed to powering Pakistan, and we are proud to work with our customers there to swiftly meet the increasing demand for power with the world’ s most advanced gas turbine technology,” said Mohamad Ali, President & CEO of GE’ s Gas Power Systems – Projects, in the Middle East, North Africa and India.“ Our HA technology is expected to help the Bhikki Power Plant become Pakistan’ s most efficient combined cycle power plant, and we look forward to following this exciting milestone with full commercial operation later this year.”
The HA is the result of almost US $ 2 billion in research and development and is GE’ s largest and most efficient heavy duty gas turbine. In June 2016, GE set a world record for powering the world’ s most efficient combined-cycle power plant in France with its HA technology. Pakistan is the first country in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and South Asia region to use this recordsetting technology.
“ We made a commitment to address the country’ s energy deficit and are leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of that goal,” stated the Honourable Chief Minister of Punjab, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.“ GE’ s HA gas turbines have set industry efficiency benchmarks in the conversion of fuel to electricity. I am happy to note that adopting this technology through a transparent procurement process has helped save billions of rupees, while enabling us to generate efficient, reliable power at low lifecycle costs.”
The Bhikki facility will be the country’ s first power plant to run on imported supplies of liquefied natural gas( LNG). It is projected to generate up to 1,180 MW- the equivalent power needed to supply approximately 2.5 million Pakistani homes – once it starts combined cycle operations later this year.
“ From steam turbines for K-Electric back in the 1960s to advanced F-class gas turbines for the Guddu Power Plant a few years ago, and now, these record-setting 9HA units at the Bhikki Power Plant, GE remains committed to pushing the boundary of possibilities by bringing advanced solutions to the country,” added Sarim Sheikh, President & CEO of GE Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
GE entered an agreement to provide two highefficiency 9HA. 01 gas turbines and associated equipment to HEI for the Bhikki Combined Cycle Power Plant in September 2015. HEI is providing engineering, procurement and construction services for the facility.
GE has supported the development of energy, transportation and healthcare infrastructure in Pakistan for more than 50 years. Today, GEbuilt technologies can generate the equivalent power needed to supply up to 25 percent of the country’ s electricity.