The second unit of General Electric's GE 9HA.01 gas turbines has arrived from Belfort, France, in Pakistan to equip the 1,180 MW Bhikki Combined Cycle Power Plant in Punjab.
The turbine follows an earlier unit that arrived in August, less than a year after the commencement of the Bhikki project, GE said in a statement.
Both units are expected to enter commercial operation in 2017.
Once complete, the Bhikki facility will help to meet up to 20% of the current shortfall, contributing to the Government of Pakistan’s goals to expand access to electricity to over 90% of the population, GE said.
“The Bhikki regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) project is an essential part of the Government of Punjab’s strategy to meet citizens’ needs for power,” said the honourable chief minister of Punjab, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
GE entered an agreement to provide two high-efficiency 9HA.01 gas turbines and associated equipment to Harbin Electric International Company Limited (HEI) for the Bhikki Combined Cycle Power Plant in October 2015. HEI is providing engineering, procurement and construction services for the facility.
GE has invested almost $2 billion in the development of HA technology, which “is being rapidly adopted by customers around the world, including those in the UK, the USA, Japan, Korea, Germany, Egypt and other countries” the company said.