China National Machinery Corp (CMEC), in consortium with GE, has secured a $117 million order to repower Ghorashal Unit 3, the largest power station in Bangladesh. The existing 210-MW Power Machines (LMZ 200) – a Russian make – will be revamped with a GE steam turbine with the aim of generating up to 416.3 MW in combined-cycle operation.
Repowering will be achieved by retrofitting Unit 3 with GE’s steam turbine high-pressure module, intermediate-pressure module and lower-pressure inner module to suit the new steam parameters. The upgrade enhances the capacity of the 210 MW Power Machines (LMZ 200) steam turbine which is run by a gas-fired boiler.
GE claims these ‘advanced reaction design’ steam turbine modules will add over 200 MW of generating capacity to the unit and boost the plant’s overall efficiency to 54% -
Deepesh Nanda, head of GE’s Gas Power Systems in South Asia commented that the Ghorashal Unit 3 project would “breathe new life into the plant while helping to lower its carbon footprint substantially.” The repowering project is part of Bangladesh’s efforts to achieve full electrification by 2021.
Post Alstom-acquisition in late 2015, GE gained capabilities to service equipment that is not of its own make. The US manufacturer has carried out over 6 GW of repowering projects worldwide; in Bangladesh, around 1.9 GW, or about 30 gas turbines, are GE make.