GE Energy has won a $9.2 million contract by Mondi Business Paper South Africa to provide an LM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbine generating set for its facility in Richards Bay, South Africa.

This represents the first natural gas-fired industrial cogeneration project in South Africa.

The LM2500+ genset is configured with a six-stage, low-speed power turbine and a dry low emissions combustor. It will be supplied with chilling coils in the gas turbine inlet system.

“This order with Mondi represents a breakthrough for GE Energy. It is the first time we have supplied power generation equipment to South Africa,” said Rick Stewart, president of GE Energy’s aeroderivative division. At site conditions, the gas turbine is rated at 27.8 MWe, increasing to 30.4 MWe when the chilling coils are in operation. The equipment is being used in a cogeneration application producing process steam for the Mondi facility.

The genset is scheduled to ship in the first quarter of 2006 and the plant is slated for commercial operation in the third quarter of 2006.