Iraqi Ministry of Electricity in coordination with MGH and GE to add up to 1.5 GW of electricity by developing next phase of Besmaya, Iraq's largest power plant

• GE will provide four 9F gas turbines and four generators for the project.
• Up to 1,200 people are expected to be employed in the construction of Besmaya Phase 3.  

Baghdad, Iraq: Under the guidance of the Iraqi Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Adel Abdul Mahdi, the patronage of the Iraqi Minister of Electricity, H.E. Dr. Luay al-Khatteeb and in continuation of their dedicated efforts to strengthen Iraq’s power sector, Mass Energy Group Holding (MGH) and GE Power signed a new agreement that will help establish Phase 3 of the Besmaya Power Plant, taking the total capacity of the facility up to 4.5 gigawatts (GW). Under the scope of the agreement, GE will supply MGH with four 9F gas turbines and four generators to equip Besmaya Phase 3. The project has already been approved by Iraq’s Council of Ministers and MGH will supply electricity from the new extension of the plant to the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

The agreement was signed in the presence of H.E. Dr. Luay Al-Khatteeb and John Rice, Chairman of GE Gas Power by Ahmad Ismail, Chairman of MGH and Joseph Anis, President and CEO of GE’s Gas Power Systems and Power Services businesses in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

H.E. Dr. Luay Al-Khatteeb said, “As the first independent power project in Central Iraq, Besmaya set benchmarks in public-private sector partnerships and contributions to Iraq’s electricity network. It has not only shown that Iraq can be an attractive destination for private sector investments in the energy sector but more importantly, it has played a critical role in helping the government to increase supplies of reliable, efficient, and affordable power to meet the needs of our citizens. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with MGH and GE through the further expansion of Besmaya Power Plant.”

Besmaya Phase 3 is the largest new power plant by output to be added to Iraq’s national grid since 2014. The project is anticipated to bring another 1.5 GW of power online by 2021, with the first 500 megawatts (MW) scheduled to be added to the grid as early as next year. Up to 1,200 people are expected to be employed in the construction of Besmaya Phase 3. 

“At Mass Energy Group Holding, our mission is to make investments in the interests of the public by being an active contributor to the construction and development of Iraq’s power sector. In GE, we have found a reliable partner that is not only committed to the same values but also able to provide industry-leading technology, as well as world-class execution and service expertise on the ground in Iraq,” said Ahmad Ismail. “We are excited to start working on the next phase of Besmaya today and remain committed to partnering with the government and people of Iraq to keep addressing the country’s power generation needs in the future as well.”

The agreement builds on a proven track record of successful power generation projects executed in collaboration between MGH and GE in Iraq. Besmaya is already the largest power plant in Iraq in terms of output and among the largest across the Middle East and North Africa. Phase 1 of Besmaya Power Plant is capable of generating up to 1.5 GW of power, while Phase 2 can already produce up to 1 GW and is expected to add up to another 500 MW as it starts combined cycle operations during the end of 2019 / early 2020. GE has provided eight 9F gas turbines and 4 steam turbines for the first two phases of Besmaya. Moreover, MGH and GE have earlier brought up to 4 GW of power online in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq through the Erbil, Duhuk, and Sulaymania projects.

“On behalf of GE, I would like to thank MGH and the Ministry of Electricity for their continued trust in us,” said Joseph Anis. “GE has been honored to collaborate with various organizations to support the development of Iraq’s electricity sector for over 50 years. From being among the first to help rebuild power infrastructure in conflict-affected areas such as Diyala and Mosul, to providing equipment and services for Iraq’s first independent power plant, we have not just promised but continuously delivered on our commitment to help power progress for the people of Iraq.”

With over 1,300 installed F-class machines exceeding 70 million operating hours, GE has the largest operating and most experienced F-class fleet in the world. GE’s F-class turbines are also able to achieve combined cycle efficiency levels of over 60 percent, which will help Iraq to increase the electricity generated per unit of fuel consumed and lower environmental impact per megawatt of power produced.

GE has a sizeable presence in Iraq with up to 300 people across the country, up to 90 percent of them local Iraqis. Since 2011, the company has helped to bring 14 GW of power online across Iraq, including up to 1.4 GW in conflict affected areas such as Diyala and Mosul. Today, GE-built technologies can generate up to 55 percent of the country’s electricity.

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GE In Iraq: 50+ Years of Delivering Progress for People

For over 50 years, GE has stood the tests of time to support Iraq to develop its energy infrastructure. We kept building, kept investing and now, GE built technologies generate up to 55 percent of Iraq’s power. Since the installation of the fi­rst GE turbine in Iraq in 1965 to date, we have been bringing advanced technologies and capabilities to power the country from north to south.

We are not just promising chnge but have already delivered results at the toughest of times and locations, to bring progress to people across Iraq.

A Decade of Progress

From 2011 to date, we have helped to add over 14 GW of power - the equivalent electricity needed to supply up to 14 million Iraqi homes - to Iraq’s national grid through more than 15 different power plants.

Powering Liberated Areas

GE’s team has helped to rebuild Mosul after the recent conflict by restoring critical power supplies generated by the Al Qayara Power Plant. The site can generate up to 750 MW.

Establishing First-of-Their-Kind Facilities

Phases 1 and 2 of the 3,000 MW Besmaya Power Plant are equipped with 8 units of GE’s advanced 9FA gas turbines. The facility is Iraq’s largest gas power station by output, the ­first digital power plant in the country and Central Iraq’s ­first combined cycle power plant. With the addition of Phase 3, the facility will be able to generate up to 4,500 MW of power.

Upgrading Existing Power Stations

In the governorate of Basra, GE’s Advanced Gas Path (AGP) upgrade solution can help each turbine at the Najibiya Power Plant run for up to an additional three months per year when the plant is powered by heavy fuel oil, improving availability and reducing downtime. The AGP is also being installed at other sites in Iraq to enhance the performance of existing assets.

Developing the National Grid

GE is developing 14 electric substations on a turnkey basis and supplying critical equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers and other outdoor equipment to rehabilitate existing substations. Several of the locations, in conflict-affected areas, are continuing to recover and are in immediate need of reliable power infrastructure.

Strengthening Local Capabilities

GE’s advanced Monitoring & Diagnostics Center in Baghdad provides visibility across a fleet of GE turbines in Iraq, overseeing real-time operating conditions and helping to operate equipment more reliably, efficiently and safely.

Building Skills

From 2008 to present, GE has helped train over 800 staff of the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity on gas turbine operations and maintenance works.

Unlocking Financing

Lack of adequate ­financing can often stall project development. GE has helped the Iraqi Ministry of Finance to close loan agreements worth up to $2 billion to develop the country’s energy sector through various export credit agencies and international ­financial institutions.

A Look Ahead: Powering Iraq Forward

Looking ahead, GE can bring industry-leading solutions to power Iraq forward. Not only can we support the construction of new power plants with technology that has helped to deliver world records for efficiency but we can also help Iraq make better use of existing resources and power generation assets.

• Gas-to-power solutions: Iraq can generate highly efficient power by setting up a gas processing unit integrated with GE’s H-class gas turbines operating in combined cycle configuration. The technology has already helped to deliver two world records for efficiency. If Iraq captures even 30 - 40 percent of the gas it flares at the moment – and GE has robust technology to do so now - the country can create up to 3.3 GW of additional power using a fuel that would otherwise have been wasted.

• Conversion of simple cycle power plants: GE has identified 16 sites that can be converted from simple to combined cycle configuration to bring an additional 4 GW of power online – enough electricity to power up to 4 million Iraqi homes - without additional expenditure on fuel or an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

• Upgrades: GE’s upgrade solutions offer another path to enhance the productivity of Iraq’s existing power plants. For example, GE’s Advanced Gas Path (AGP) solution, which has been installed on more than 435 gas turbines across 39 countries, generating $775 million a year in benefits for power producers has also been deployed effectively in Iraq.
• Transmission and distribution systems: GE can develop substations and overhead lines across Iraq to strengthen grid connectivity.

Mass Group Holding:

Mass Group Holding aims to be an outstanding icon in the economic development of Iraq to achieve prosperity for our people. The Group strives to lead in building and developing the infrastructure of Iraq. MGH is committed to generating sufficient energy and resources and ensuring environmental sustainability through highly efficient practices and a safe working environment by complying with all legal and technical requirements relating to Health, Safety & Environment. Today, Mass Global Holding generates over 8,500 MW of power including 4,500 MW in Baghdad and 4,000 MW in Kurdistan.

About GE:

GE (NYSE:GE) drives the world forward by tackling its biggest challenges. By combining world-class engineering with software and analytics, GE helps the world work more efficiently, reliably, and safely. For more than 125 years, GE has invented the future of industry, and today it leads new paradigms in additive manufacturing, materials science, and data analytics. GE people are global, diverse and dedicated, operating with the highest integrity and passion to fulfill GE’s mission and deliver for our customers. www.ge.com 

About GE Power:

GE Power is a world energy leader providing equipment, solutions and services across the energy value chain from generation to consumption. Operating in more than 180 countries, our technology produces a third of the world’s electricity, equips 90 percent of power transmission utilities worldwide, and our software manages more than forty percent of the world’s energy. Through relentless innovation and continuous partnership with our customers, we are developing the energy technologies of the future and improving the power networks we depend on today. For more information please visit www.ge.com/power , and follow GE Power on Twitter and on LinkedIn.

For more information, please contact:
Duraid Adnan
Communications Manager, GE Iraq & Levant
duraid.adnan@ge.com 

Abeer Masood
Senior Communications Manager, GE Power MENA & South Asia
abeer.masood@ge.com 

Kelly Home | Nivine William
ASDA’A BCW; +9714 4507 600
kelly.home@bcw-global.com
nivine.william@bcw-global.com 

© Press Release 2019