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GE and Marafiq sign deal to build new power plant at SEZAD

12 Jul 2021

GE Gas Power has signed an agreement to build, own and operate a power plant equipped with mobile TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines for the Centralized Utilities Company (Marafiq) in Duqm.

Rural Areas Electricity Company (Tanweer) will purchase from Marafiq the power generated at the new plant in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) pursuant to a power purchase agreement entered into by and between Tanweer and Marafiq.

Tanweer is an Oman-government owned company mandated to provide power in various regions of the country, including the Special Economic Zone in Duqm.

GE will supply four TM2500 units for the project. These four  units will be made available to provide up to 80MW of power.

‘GE is expected to commission the plant in as little as five months’ time. The facility will then be operated for a minimum of three years, until the area is connected to the main 400kV grid,’ a press statement said.

Often described as GE’s ‘Power Plant on Wheels’, the TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbine is an easy to install, fast power, complete turnkey energy solution that can be redeployed from one location to another.

The TM2500 units will replace power currently generated by diesel generators in Duqm. This will lead to significant environmental benefits.

Ahmed al Harthy, Tanweer’s acting CEO, said, “The Special Economic Zone at Duqm is a major new driver of socio-economic development in Oman. Tanweer’s, Marafiq’s and GE’s focus was to identify a reliable power solution that could be implemented quickly and in a more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective manner than diesel-fueled technologies.”

Hamed Ali al Wahibi, general manager of business development and strategy at Marafiq, said, “GE’s TM2500 solution is an excellent fit for this new project at Duqm. The technology offers a reliability rate of over 99 per cent and more than 20 years of proven experience with over 300 units installed around the world and we believe it can bring significant benefits to Duqm.”

Joseph Anis, president and CEO of GE Gas Power Europe, Middle East and Africa, said, “We are honored to support Marafiq and Tanweer on their journey to further strengthen and decarbonize the power sector in Duqm. The project illustrates how switching from diesel or oil-fueled power generation to gas can help power producers to generate more sustainable electricity, without compromising on the reliability, flexibility and affordability of power supply.”

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