The first two of fourteen SGT-800 industrial gas turbines Siemens is supplying for the conversion of three power plants in Bolivia to combined cycle started their long journey from Sweden to South America in May, the company reports. The SGT-800 turbines are being supplied under an agreement signed a year ago to increase Bolivia’s installed generating capacity by more than one gigawatt.
The first two of fourteen SGT-800 industrial gas turbines Siemens is supplying for the conversion of three power plants in Bolivia to combined cycle started their long journey from Sweden to South America in May, the company reports. The SGT-800 turbines are being supplied under an agreement signed a year ago to increase Bolivia’s installed generating capacity by more than one gigawatt.
The first two machines (for the Termoeléctrica del Sur site), manufactured at Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery in Finspang, Sweden, were loaded onto a heavy load carrier in the harbour of Norrköping. The cargo of more than 170 tons will travel a first 14 000 km leg by sea, to the harbour of Arica in Chile. From there the modules will be transported another 1800 km to Bolivia, over a challenging overland route that is partially rough terrain at high altitude subject to severe weather. Siemens notes that, in total, power plant equipment from three continents will be delivered to Bolivia and up to 400 heavy loads will eventually cross the Andes to bring equipment to the three power plant construction sites, the other two being Termoeléctrica de Warnes and Termoeléctrica Entre Rios.
“With this project we achieve the fastest, most efficient and most cost- effective expansion of the power generating capacity in Bolivia,” said Willi Meixner, CEO of Siemens Power and Gas Division, with significant savings in natural gas consumption per unit output thanks to a dramatic hike in efficiency (to about 50%).
As well as the 14 industrial gas turbines, Siemens is also supplying eleven steam turbines and other equipment. It is working with Spanish consortium partner TSK on the combined cycle expansion projects, which will increase the installed power generating capacity of Bolivia’s National Interconnected System by no less than 66%, providing “reliable energy supply for the local population and laying the foundation for a possible electricity export.”