Turbines land early, Reliance Power sees faster Samalkot plug-in

Reliance Power expects to commission its 2,400 mw, gas-based power project at Samalkot in Andhra Pradesh faster with the arrival of two turbines from General Electric (GE) a month ahead of schedule.

The project, which is an expansion over an existing 220 mw capacity, has been taken up with an outlay of Rs10,000 crore.

It is scheduled to go into open-cycle commissioning by March 2012, while the combined cycle commissioning has been scheduled for December 2012.

“The arrivals of turbines early gives us hope of executing the project ahead of schedule though it is early to specify the time that will be saved,” a source told DNA.

The first batch of two GE turbines reached the Kakinada port in April instead of late May when it was scheduled, from Greenville, South Carolina.

Reliance Power is hopeful of receiving the balance four turbines too ahead of their schedule.

“This will help us commission all the gas turbines within the 11th Five-Year Plan. On commissioning, the project will contribute over 16,000 million units (kWh) to the power-deficit southern region,” the source said.

Reliance Power had placed the main plant equipment order for its Samalkot expansion project with GE in October 2010.   
  
The order comprising six gas turbines, three steam turbines and generators for the power project is supported by long-term project recourse finance from the US Exim Bank.

GE is also responsible for maintenance of the power project throughout its operating life, along with guaranteed availability, output and efficiency. The order is the largest order for GE in India and one of the largest for it globally.

The Samalkot project was also recently lauded by the US president Obama for helping create about 1,600 jobs in the US backed by the order placed on GE.