General Electric (GE) has completed the supply and installation of three 25 MW, trailer mounted TM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbines at the Port Harcourt refinery in Nigeria.

This is coming at a time where more industrial facilities are using distributed power technologies to ensure a reliable energy supply and increase productivity.

In November 2013, Genesis Electricity Ltd, an independent power producer, signed a 20 year power purchase agreement with NNPC for the installation of the GE TM2500+ units at Port Harcourt. The agreement also included the future modernisation of two more Nigerian refineries.

The installation will ensure that the refinery has the power it requires to overcome grid outages and return to full production capacity. Outages have previously reduced the refinery’s output to 30% of its total capacity (210 000 bpd). The TM2500+ gas turbines will provide both the base load and backup power to support refinery operations.

GE acted as a catalyst for the project, taking it to financial closure by working with all stakeholders and partners to structure the project’s equity. This is the first-ever non-recourse project financing for power plants in Nigeria.

“We are excited to work with GE to deploy their proven TM2500+ gas turbine technology and help Nigeria successfully return the Port Harcourt refinery to full service as quickly as possible,” said Akinwole Omoboriowo, CEO of Genesis Electricity Limited. “This project was not only important in getting the refinery back into full operation, but also to support Nigeria’s long-term economic interests by achieving optimum refining capacity.”

Our TM2500+ technology’s high-power density and compact footprint make it the perfect solution to address Port Harcourt Refining Company’s fast ramp-up, on-site power requirements while also ensuring the refinery’s long-term viability,” said George Njenga, GE’s Distributed Power Leader for sub Saharan Africa.

On his part, the President and CEO of GE Nigeria Dr Lazarus Angbazo GE said GE is training local engineers to operate and manage the refinery’s TM2500+ units. He said GE also has an in-country service and maintenance workshop to service the units.  Apart from reflecting GE’s long term commitment to Nigeria, Dr Angbazo said these efforts are in line with local content requirements in Nigeria

GE’s TM2500+ gas turbine is capable of providing ISO-rated 31 MW of fast and reliable on-site generating capacity. The system can be used to provide utilities with a “baseload bridge” to support permanent power installations; backup power to support natural disaster relief efforts; or for plant shutdowns or equipment maintenance. The fuel-flexible system can use either natural gas or liquid-distillate.