Rented gas turbines to ease Bangladesh’s energy woes

GE will supply Bagngladesh with four gas turbine rental units that will begin generating commercial power in the first quarter of 2011.

The Bangladesh Power Development Board awarded Max Power, a local power utility, the contract to rent four GE units, which will burn natural gas and generate a total of 76 MW of electricity. The new power will be used to support the immediate residential, industrial and agricultural needs of the Ghorasal region.
 
The gas turbine units will help to close an energy gap where only 40 percent of Bangladesh’s 156 million citizens has access to electricity.

 The rental project will be the first installation of GE’s TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines in Bangladesh.

 
While natural gas shortages in some regions of Bangladesh have contributed to the country’s power crisis, Ghorasal is located close to the Titas gas field and serves as a hub for natural gas transmission.

“The Quick Rental Power Plant at Ghorasal will immensely help the population of Bangladesh in reducing the frequent load shedding and power outages,” said Sufian A. Khondker, PhD., department head, water resources engineering for Max Power.

“GE is constantly striving to develop innovative technology that can address our customers’ dynamic energy and water needs. Our ability to deliver these rental units and get them operating quickly is a key to meeting Bangladesh’s urgent power requirements,” said Darryl Wilson, vice president—aeroderivative gas turbines for GE Power & Water.