Al Ezzel Power Company (AEPC), which is building Bahrain’s first independent power station, is working on its second phase and is expecting it to be completed in May 2007.
The first phase became operational at the end of April. Siemens Power Generation (PG) is implementing the project on a turnkey basis with the order value for Siemens being 310 million euros ($398 million). Siemens’ scope of supply includes four gas turbines of SGT-2000E, two steam turbines, associated generators, transformers and instrumentation and control systems. Phase 1 is delivering 470 MW in the current summer peak and Phase 2 will deliver an additional 480 MW when it is completed.
The plant, located in the Hidd Industrial Area, is fired with natural gas supplied by the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) under a long-term natural gas sales agreement and the electricity offtaker is the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW). AEPC says it utilises the latest technology to ensure efficiency, reliability and low-operation and maintenance costs. AEPC vice chairman Guy Richelle said the plant’s gas turbine combined cycle technology minimised the environmental impact through lower emissions. The company’s shareholders are Suez Energy International, the Gulf Investment Corporation and the Pension Fund Commission of the Bahraini government. The EPC contract was placed in November 2004.
The $500 million plant will provide electricity to the MEW under a 20-year power purchase agreement. Bahraini companies including GPZ, Nass Contractors, Comsip and Alkomed are making a significant contribution to the project.
Siemens is executing 17 power plant orders in the Middle East with a combined capacity of more than 12,000 MW. “We want to further consolidate our position in this important market,” said Klaus Voges, president of Siemens Power Generation.
Siemens PG has also been contracted to supply Linde AG with six integrally geared compressors destined for two air separation plants in Saudi Arabia. To each plant, Siemens PG is supplying three compressor trains, models STC-GV (200-3), STC-GV (32-5-H) and STC-GV (50-3). The compressor trains are designed for oxygen production of 3,000 tonnes per day. Delivery of the new equipment is scheduled for early 2007. In December 2005 Siemens PG supplied a large-scale compression solution for one of these plants in Saudi Arabia, operated by the National Industrial Gases Company. This solution will be at the heart of the air separation plants, and is capable of processing no less than 700,000 cu m of air per hour.
