Qatar Electricity and Water Company has signed a nine-year agreement with General Electric Gas Power (NYSE:GE) to provide upgrade and maintenance services for three 9F gas turbines at the Ras Abu Fontas B2 (RAF B2) plant located 10 kilometers away south of the capital, Doha.
The agreement was signed by Eng. Mohamed Nasser Al-Hajri, Managing Director and General Manager of Qatar Electricity and Water Company; and Joseph Anis, President and CEO of General Electric's Energy Services and Gas Power Systems business unit in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
On this occasion, Engineer Mohammed Nasser Al-Hajri said: “Since its inception, the Qatar Electricity and Water Company has played a pivotal role in meeting the needs of electricity and water in the State of Qatar. Its total production capacity, with its joint ventures, amounts to more than 11 gigawatts of electric power and 540 million gallons per day of desalinated water. The company is committed to adopting the best solutions that help us meet the requirements of our customers and Qatar's growing needs of electricity and water."
Al-Hajri added: “Our partnership with General Electric began with the construction of the Ras Abu Fontas B2 substation. There was an EPC contractor, and has continued to provide long-term maintenance services since the plant began commercial operations in 2008. We are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with her to improve the plant's performance, reduce its operating costs, and support its vital operations to enhance energy and water security in Qatar”.
Qatar Electricity and Water Company is the second largest power generation and water desalination company in the Middle East and North Africa region, and the main supplier of electricity and desalinated water to Qatar. The total production capacity of the three gas turbines covered by the service agreement amounts to 609 megawatts. These turbines support the operation of one of the most important power plants in Qatar, contributing to the stability of the electricity supply in the country. The services provided by General Electric under the agreement will help enhance the reliability and performance of the turbines, reduce their operational risks, and thus provide a more stable energy supply for desalination and meet the energy demand in the country.
For his part, Joseph Anis said: “QEWC provides about 55% of the electricity supply and 73% of the water supply in Qatar. The stability of its operations is crucial to supporting the Qatari society and economy and continuing the path of national development. We at GE are honored to continue our cooperation with Qatar Electricity and Water Company to enhance the energy infrastructure in Qatar, and provide flexible, highly reliable energy to meet the needs of residents and businesses.
GE has the largest portfolio of F-series turbines in operation in the world; More than 450 Type 9F gas turbines are deployed in more than 40 countries. These turbines provide stable performance with the ability to operate with different types of fuel, including hydrogen by up to 80%, which makes them an excellent choice for all power plants operating in combined cycle, combined heat and power systems.
General Electric has contributed to the development of the main infrastructure of the energy sector in Qatar for more than 50 years, and its gas and steam turbines continue to generate the electricity needed to support the growth of the energy sector in the country and achieve the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
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