Pakistan starts power plant modernization

The first project expected under that Pakistan's initiative to medernize power plants is a 750-megawatt combined-cycle plant in Guddu. It would feature advanced technology F-class gas turbines from GE.

The Pakistani government had launched a policy to replace aging and sometimes inefficient power plants with more efficient, modern technology facilities.

Developed by the Pakistan Electric Power Company, the new facility is expected to be Pakistan’s most efficient and largest combined-cycle plant. It would be a significant first step toward helping Pakistan meet its power deficit, which today is estimated to be 4,500 megawatts.

“Energy deficiency is hurting the industrial sector, and domestic and commercial activities also are affected, due to continuous load shedding of eight to 10 hours in rural areas and four to six hours in urban areas,” said Tahir Basharat Cheema, managing director of PEPCO. “With its high efficiency, the new Guddu plant will help reduce the country’s demand/supply gap.”

GE will supply two Frame 9FA gas turbines and associated generators, which are expected to be shipped to the project site by the end of 2011 and installed by September 2012, with full plant commercial operation expected by mid-2013. The scope of GE’s contract also includes controls systems, installation services, performance testing of the gas turbines and customer training.

“Bringing efficient, advanced power generation technology to regions of the world where more electricity is urgently needed is a key mission and growth strategy for our company,” said Ricardo Cordoba, president of GE Energy Western Europe, North Africa and Pakistan. “Our F-class technology, proven in applications around the world, will supply reliable power to support Pakistan’s economic growth and help improve the daily lives of its citizens.”

The new plant is an expansion for the Guddu site, which already includes steam plants that have been in service for more than 40 years and a combined-cycle plant that has been operating with GE technology since the mid-1980s.