GE and Siemens to add over 3 GW of gas capacity in Iraq

Two major thermal projects have been announced in Iraq, the reconstruction of the Baiji 1 and Baiji 2 (1.6 GW) gas-fired power plant and the third phase of the Besmaya gas-fired power plant (1.5 GW).

GE will establish Phase 3 of the Besmaya plant that will expand the plant's capacity to 4.5 GW. The project is being led by Mass Energy Group Holding (MGH), which signed a supply agreement with GE for four 9F gas turbines and four generators. 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 project is anticipated to bring 1.5 GW online by 2021, with the first 500 MW scheduled to be added to the grid by 2020.

Works on the Baiji power units will be led by a consortium of Siemens and Orascom Construction under an EPC + Finance basis. They will be completed within 28 months once the contracts are approved by Iraq’s Council of Ministers and a financial agreement is reached with the Ministry of Finance. Siemens will supply four of its SGT5-2000E gas turbines and will inspect and revamp six exiting ones. The company will also provide two 400kV and one 132kV substations, along with generators, auxiliaries, automation and control systems, and related electrical equipment. The power plant is located 250 km north of Baghdad and was severely damaged over the past months.