GE to deliver 2.6GW of gas-fired power across Egypt

GE has signed a contract with the Egyptian government to deliver 2.6 GW of power generation capacity, the company said. GE Power & Water’s Distributed Power business said it will deliver 34 of its aeroderivative gas turbines, which are expected to begin generating power in May, as well as 12 heavy-duty gas turbines to 15 sites across Egypt.

In the project’s initial phase, 14 LM6000 turbines and 20 mobile TM2500 turbines are likely to be delivered to help offset Egypt's expected summer power demand, and some of the country’s existing power plants will be upgraded with new turbines. The second phase is said to include plans for two full-scale power plants, which are likely to generate 1495 MW.

GE said all the LM6000 turbines have already been delivered and 10 have been installed, although they are not yet up and running. The majority of the trailer-mounted TM2500 turbines have been delivered and are currently being installed, the company said. The contract was signed in December 2014 and construction is currently underway.

Egypt’s creaking power system has resulted in regular blackouts since 2011, and analysts warn that the government will need to add at least 1500 MW per year in order to keep pace with an annual demand growth of 7 per cent. The state-owned Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) aims to add over 12 GW in new capacity by 2018, while the Ministry of Electricity and Energy has outlined plans for 17.8 GW by 2017.