Thar Energy Limited Power Plant: GE wins over $60 million deals to provide services for 12 years

GE Power announced that it has won equipment and services deals worth more than US $60 million to power and provide critical maintenance services for a period of 12 years for the 330 megawatts (MW) Thar Energy Limited (TEL) Power Plant in Pakistan. The collaboration further demonstrates GE's advanced technologies and reinforces its leadership as a trusted partner throughout the lifecycle of a power plant.
Khalid Mansoor, CEO HUBCO said, "We are committed to supporting Pakistan in achieving power self-sufficiency and our focus on using our country's own resources is testament to this. In driving the TEL project, we are using proven world-class technology by GE, which has demonstrated its long-term efficiency and reliability using similar fuels internationally. The inclusion of a multi-year services agreement furthers GE and Hubco's cooperation, and not only marks a new milestone in our long-lasting relationship but also in Pakistan's ambitions for a secure energy future."
GE will provide its advanced Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) boiler and its steam turbine generator technology for the TEL Power Plant. Thar lignite coal contains up to 50 percent moisture and low ash content, making it significantly challenging to burn reliably. GE's boiler technology has been a preferred technology-of-choice on Thar lignite fired power plants because of GE's successful track record burning similarly challenging fuels in Europe and North America.
Pakistan has about 180 billion tons of lignite reserves and GE's technology can help the country use this indigenous resource instead of importing more expensive fuels to increase energy independence and save foreign exchange reserves.
Globally today, GE's steam turbines equip up to 30 percent of coal-fired steam power plants and 50 percent of the world's nuclear power plants. In Pakistan, GE has supported the development of energy infrastructure for more than 50 years. Today, GE-built technologies can generate the equivalent power needed to supply up to 30 percent of the country's electricity.
"Coal is a vital part of the energy mix in Pakistan. GE's technology for coal-fueled power plants is proven, reliable, affordable, and an industry leader in efficiency, leading to lower emissions. The TEL project will generate up to 330MW to help the country bridge the gap between electricity demand and available supply, reiterating our commitment to support the development of Pakistan's power sector," said Sarim Sheikh, President & CEO of GE Pakistan and Central Asia.-PR