GE to supply equipment and services for power plant in Turkey

19-11-99 GE Power Systems will supply power generation equipment and additional services for the construction of a $ 194 mm, Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) power plant that will supply 206 MW of electricity for Alapli, in the province of Zonguldak, Turkey. ATAM Elektrik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. of Istanbul is sponsoring the project which is being co-developed by ATAM and GE Power Systems. The new natural-gas fired plant is scheduled to begin commercial service in the fourth quarter of 2002.
A signing ceremony for the energy sales and gas supply agreements for the project was held in Istanbul during President Clinton's visit to Turkey, and was attended by Cumhur Ersumer, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Bill Richardson, U.S. Secretary of Energy. The concession agreement from the Turkish government allowing the project to proceed was signed a year ago.

Using environmentally clean natural gas as the fuel and incorporating GE's state-of-the-art 6FA gas turbines with an advanced, Dry Low NOx (nitrous oxide) emission control system, the plant will meet or exceed Turkish, US Ex-Im Bank and World Bank emissions standards. The Turkish Ministry of Environment has approved the environmental impact assessment for the project.
In addition to being the co-developer and supplying the power generation equipment and technical advisory services, GE also is the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor, in consortium with Technip of Italy, and will be the long-term services provider. GE Capital Market Services is the financial advisor for the project.
"We are encouraged by the determination of the Turkish government to enact necessary legislation to enable independent power projects to move forward in the country," said Del Williamson, president of Global Sales for GE Power Systems. "We appreciate the continued support of U.S. Ambassador Mark Parris and his staff, and are optimistic about finalising the financing and starting the construction of the first project-financed BOT powerproject in Turkey in the new millennium."

GE Power Systems is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation technology, energy services and energy management systems. The $ 9.7 bn GE business serves customers through a global network of offices and service centres, and has the largest installed base of power generation equipment in the energy industry. GE provides turnkey equipment, service and management solutions across several industries, including utilities, independent power producers and industrial/commercial customers.