Upgrade completed on GE gas turbines at African power plant

GE has completed upgrades on its fleet of gas turbines at a key power generation plant in Tanzania.

The company’s SSA gas power systems and power services team finished work on the fleet of three LM6000PA and one LM6000PC gas turbines in the Songas Ubungo plant in Dar es Salaam. The Ubungo station provides more than 20 percent of grid-connected power in the nation.

SPRINT (sprayintercooling) technology was installed on two of the four units.

“Over the past 15 years, Songas and GE have collaborated on the Ubungo power plant, and we’re excited to help enhance operations, increase capacity, and deliver the principles of safety first, quality foremost and operational excellence,” said Elisee Sezan, CEO for GE’s Gas Power systems business in sub–Saharan Africa.

The LM6000 series of aeroderivative gas turbines have a net output of 45 to 58 MW with a five-minute start time, according to GE. The upgrade improves power, heat rate and reliability.

Tanzania is the sixth most populous nation in sub-Saharan Africa, but has only about 1,500 MW in generation capacity. Nearly eight million households are without access to electricity.