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21 November 2008 - GE Energy has signed a 15-year service agreement with South African oil and gas company Sasol for the 280 MW power plant at Secunda.
Under the agreement, GE Energy will provide around-the-clock monitoring and diagnostics of Sasol's new power plant in Secunda, which could help ease South Africa's energy crisis.
South Africa, which has Africa's largest economy, is in the grip of an electricity supply crunch. Nationwide power cuts early this year affected large aluminum smelters and forced gold and platinum mines to temporarily shut down operations. The mines, a cornerstone of the economy, have since then seen production fall after operating with reduced power supplies.
The new 280 MW plant, which will feature the first installation in South Africa of GE Energy's Frame 9E gas turbines, will be located at the site of Sasol's synthetic fuels facility in Secunda. The new plant will provide power for the production of synfuels, with excess electricity sold to Eskom, the state-owned utility.
The multi-million dollar contractual service agreement signed by GE Energy and Sasol covers all maintenance activities for the two GE Frame 9E gas turbines at the site over the 15-year period. The agreement also includes 24-hour-a-day monitoring and diagnostics of the gas turbines' performance.
Initially, natural gas will be the fuel for the gas turbines, but future plans call for the use of low-BTU gas/flare gas, for a further reduction in emissions.
In addition to providing much-needed power to help alleviate South Africa's energy shortfall, the Secunda plant will contribute to the local economy by creating new jobs and developing local talent. Sasol's extensive experience in plant operations will be complemented by the gas turbine technology and expertise that GE will provide.
The new power plant project expands GE Energy's existing relationship with Sasol; there are 22 GE steam turbines operating at the Secunda site
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