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GE and Harbin Electric International are hailing “a major milestone” after they carried out the first fire of an advanced GE 9HA gas turbine installed at Bhikki power plant in Pakistan.

The first fire of the GE 9HA at Bhikki power plant in Pakistan comes less than 17 months after the 1180 MW turnkey project was first announced and also marks the introduction of the 9HA turbine to Pakistan.

Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab, said the first fire was “a significant milestone towards the completion of the Bhikki project”.

The HA is GE’s largest and most efficient gas turbine and the unit at Bhikki can generate up to 385 MW of power.

“This is the first GE 9HA unit to be operational not only in Pakistan but also in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and South Asia region,” said Sarim Sheikh, President of GE Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.

GE will supply two 9HA.01 gas turbines for the Bhikki plant while China's Harbin Electric International is providing engineering, procurement and construction services for the facility.

GE hails gas turbine first fire in Pakistan