US-based conglomerate General Electric (GE) has delivered two Frame 6B 3-series gas turbine-generators for the UBE Batam Power Plant in Indonesia.
In addition to supporting future economic growth for Batam Island and reducing its dependency on oil-fired power generation, the gas-fired plant is expected to cut down power generation costs.
The gas-fired plant, which is owned by an offshoot of PT Medco Power Indonesia, will increase the island’s electricity supply.
GE has already shipped the equipment for the new generating facility, which is expected to begin commercial service in early 2014.
PT Medco Power Indonesia president director Fazil E Alfitri said, "Installing GE’s gas turbine technology at our UBE Batam Power Plant will enable us to use more of Indonesia’s cleaner domestic natural gas resources in place of oil to help strengthen the country’s energy security and economy while also reducing Batam’s emissions from power generation."
Commenting on the Frame 6B 3-series gas turbine, GE Power & Water president and thermal products CEO Paul Browning stated, "This machine offers proven reliability and a lower cost of generating electricity compared to older, oil-fired steam turbine plants."
The gas-fired facility operating on natural gas supplied from West Natuna is expected to provide 80MW of electricity.