Qatalum Signs Agreement with GE to Generate More Sustainable & Secure Power in Support of Qatar National Vision 2030
- GE to provide five Advanced Gas Path (AGP) upgrade units, maintenance services for 15 years, and cybersecurity solutions for 5 years to Qatalum.
- Agreement marks the first time that the AGP solution will be deployed in Qatar.
- Solutions and services provided will help Qatalum to enhance operational performance and sustainability, in line with the goal under Qatar National Vision 2030 to foster economic development, while protecting the environment.
Doha, Qatar; May 24, 2021: Qatalum signed an agreement with GE to provide five Advanced Gas Path (AGP) upgrade units, maintenance services for a period of 15 years for equipment at its 1,080 megawatts (MW) power plant, and a suite of cybersecurity solutions. Four of the AGP upgrades will be installed on 9F gas turbines at Qatalum’s power plant, and one unit will be kept as a spare. This is the first time that the innovative AGP solution will be deployed in Qatar. It is expected to help Qatalum enhance its power output by up to 96.7 megawatts (MW) with improved plant efficiency; increase the availability of its gas turbines and lower operational expenses by increasing the interval between their planned maintenance cycles from 24,000 factored fired hours (FFH) to up to 32,000 FFH; and to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions for the same level of power output by up to 67,000 tons annually – the equivalent of taking up to 14,000 cars off Qatar’s roads.
Located in Mesaieed Industrial City, approximately 40 kilometers south of Doha, Qatalum is the only aluminium smelter in Qatar. It produces more than 600,000 tons of high-quality primary aluminium products per annum that are used in the automotive, construction, consumer goods, and other industries and exported worldwide. Enhancing the sustainability of their operations to foster economic development, while protecting the environment, is a top organizational priority at Qatalum and an important goal under Qatar National Vision 2030.
Mr. Khalid Mohamed Laram, Qatalum’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “At Qatalum, we continuously explore solutions to improve productivity and reduce the environmental impact of our activities as part of our efforts towards becoming a green aluminium producer. The electricity generated at our power plant is a critical input for our manufacturing processesand GE’s AGP upgrade is an excellent fit for our needs, enabling us to boost fuel efficiency and output, increase the duration between planned maintenance cycles, and to reduce costs, as well as carbon dioxide emissions, per megawatt of power generated.”
Under the 15-year service agreement, GE will provide maintenance works for four 9F gas turbines, four generators, and other equipment at Qatalum. The agreement is a continuation of maintenance services that GE had already been providing at the site since it was set up in 2010. Furthermore, GE will also provide a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity solutions to Qatalum for a period of five years to address external and internal risks, including application and network security, data protection, change management, incident handling and response, data privacy, identity management, and more.
“GE is honored to support Qatalum in its journey to further increase efficiency, enhance reliability, and decarbonize its operations,” said Joseph Anis, President & CEO of GE Gas Power in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. “More than 440 AGP units have been sold to date for use across 5 continents and we are delighted to bring this technology to Qatar for the very first time. Upgrade solutions such as the AGP are a cost-effective means for power plant owners and operators to better utilize existing power generation assets and drive more sustainable growth for current and future generations.”
GE has over four decades of presence in Qatar, supporting the country’s infrastructure requirements with solutions for the energy, aviation, and healthcare sectors. The GE Advanced Technology and Research Center (GEATRC) at the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) is also driving localized innovation by focusing on applied research and knowledge transfer in key areas that drive Qatar’s socioeconomic growth.
About GE:
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About GE Gas Power:
GE Gas Power is a world leader in natural gas power technology, services and solutions. Through relentless innovation and continuous partnership with our customers, we are providing more advanced, cleaner and efficient power that people depend on today and building the energy technologies of the future. With the world’s largest installed base of gas turbines and more than 600 million operating hours across GE’s installed fleet, we offer advanced technology and a level of experience that’s unmatched in the industry to build, operate and maintain leading gas power plants. For more information, please visit www.ge.com/power/gas and follow GE’s gas power businesses on Twitter and LinkedIn.