GE Energy bags $500 million power equipment supply contract in Bahrain

12 June 2009

GE Energy, a unit of General Electric Co and one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, has signed contracts totalling more than $500 million to supply advanced power generation equipment and long-term services for the Al Dur Independent Water and Power Project, the largest power plant in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Developed to help meet Bahrain's growing water and power requirements, the plant is located in the Al Dur area of Bahrain's southeastern coast and when completed, the plant is expected to provide 1,250 megawatts of power, which would account for 30 per cent of the country's existing electricity grid output, as well as 48 million imperial gallons of desalinated water per day.

Bahrain's Electricity and Water Authority is also planning additional capacity expansions over the next 20 years to support the country's reported power demand growth rate at 7-10 per cent per year.

Atlanta, Georgia-based GE Energy will be supplying two steam turbines and four heavy-duty Frame 9FA gas turbines, which are equipped with GE advanced emission control technologies. GE also has signed a 20-year contractual service agreement (CSA) contract for the project, which will support the long-term operability and performance of the turbines.

Under the terms of the CSA, GE Energy will supply parts, repairs and provide field services for planned and unplanned maintenance for the gas turbine-generators and accessory equipment.

Designed to increase the reliability of the power plant equipment, the CSA also guarantees the availability of power, which is especially critical during the summer months.