Nigeria’s crude oil refining capacity is set to rise in the coming days, as General Electric, GE, disclosed that it has completed the supply and installation of three 25-megawatt, MW, aero-derivative mobile gas turbines, with a combined capacity of 75MW, to the Port Harcourt refinery.
The turbines, a trailer-mounted, TM2500+ power plants, were supplied through Genesis Electricity Limited with the aim of ensuring uninterrupted power supply at the refinery.

According to a statement by GE, the installation of the mobile gas turbines will ensure that the Port Harcourt refinery, Nigeria’s largest crude oil refinery, has the power it needs to overcome grid outages and return to full refining capacity.

“Before now, outages have reduced the refinery’s output to 30 per cent of its total maximum capacity of 210,000 barrels per day. To help address these issues, GE signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in November 2013 for the installation of GE’s TM2500+ units at the refinery” the company said.

GE further said the TM2500+ gas turbines will provide both the base load and backup power to support refinery operations, adding that the agreement also includes the future modernisation of Nigeria’s other two refineries.

Commenting on the development, President and Chief Executive Officer, GE Nigeria, Dr Lazarus Angbazo, said the company is in the process of training Nigerian engineers to operate and manage the refinery’s TM2500+ units.

According to him, GE also has an in-country service and maintenance workshop to service the units, adding that apart from reflecting GE’s long term commitment to Nigeria, these efforts are in line with local content requirements in Nigeria.

He further said that the GE TM2500+ gas turbine is capable of providing ISO-rated 31MW of fast and reliable on-site generating capacity.

He said, “The system can be used to provide utilities with a base load bridge to support permanent power installations; backup power to support natural disaster relief efforts; or for plant shutdowns or equipment maintenance. The fuel-flexible system can use either natural gas or liquid-distillate.

“GE acted as a catalyst for the project, taking it to financial closure by working with all stakeholders and partners to structure the project’s equity. This is the first-ever non-recourse project financing for power plants in Nigeria.”

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer, GE, Mr. AkinwoleOmoboriowo, said, “We are excited to work with GE to deploy their proven TM2500+ gas turbine technology and help Nigeria successfully return the Port Harcourt refinery to full service as quickly as possible.

“This project was not only important in getting the refinery back into full operation, but also to support Nigeria’s long-term economic interests by achieving optimum refining capacity.”

Similarly, GE’s Distributed Power Leader for sub-Sahara Africa, Mr. George Njenga, said, “Our TM2500+ technology’s high-power density and compact footprint make it the perfect solution to address Port Harcourt Refining Company’s fast ramp-up, on-site power requirements while also ensuring the refinery’s long-term viability.”