GE bags fresh set of orders in Iraq

GE late on Wednesday said it had signed close to USD 1.5 billion in contracts with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity that will see it add more than 2 GW to the grid.

Under the agreements, GE will establish power plants, provide technology and offer maintenance services. The package, totalling more than USD 1.4 billion, is also aimed at realising the secured delivery of some 1.75 GW of existing power to the Iraqi grid.

GE will be called upon to build the Dhi Qar and Samawa power plants, which combined will add 1.5 GW to the national grid. Both plants will be fitted with four 9E gas turbines in 2018. As part of the second phase of the work, the units will be converted for combined-cycle operations.

In addition to carrying out engineering, procurement and construction work, GE will also deliver heat recovery stream generators and steam turbine technology for the project.

GE’s orders tie in with phase two of the Ministry of Electricity’s Power Up plan, aimed at identifying critical maintenance projects. Through rehabilitation and upgrade efforts at four unnamed facilities, GE will add more than 580 MW to the grid.

Maintenance work on 9E gas turbines at another six undisclosed power plants in the country will secure the supply of around 1.75 GW of existing power generation.

Commenting on the deal, Ministry of Electricity spokesperson Musaab Al Mudarris said the orders for GE underscore “the commitment to strengthen the nation’s power infrastructure.”

“With demand for electricity increasing every year, a transformational approach is required that is led by new projects and technology upgrades,” he added.

In January 2016, GE and the Ministry of Electricity inked agreements for the Power Up phase one project. Valued at more than USD 1 billion, the work added 700 MW in additional power over the course of last year.