Egypt's Giant CCGT Takes Shape

Siemens said May 19 that four of its H-class gas turbines, each of 400 MW, have arrived at the Beni Suef power plant under construction in Egypt.

Two of the turbines alongside six 500-kV generator transformers were placed on their foundations, marking an important milestone towards commissioning of the eventual 4.8-GW plant – which Siemens says is set to become the world's biggest gas-fired combined-cycle (CCGT) power plant complex when completed, and enough to supply 15mn Egyptians.

The Beni Suef plant, 110 km south of Cairo, will start supplying its first electricity to the national energy grid as early as winter 2016/2017. "Today, we celebrate an important milestone in the modernization of Egypt's energy infrastructure and I am sure that many other milestones will follow," said Egypt’s electricity minister Dr. Mohamed Shaker at a May 19 event to mark the turbines’ arrival.  

Siemens and local construction partner Elsewedy Electric are building Beni Suef and two later 4.8-GW CCGTs in Egypt, for a total capacity of 14.4 GW. The German firm said that 4.4 GW of the capacity will be connected to the national grid in 19 months – from signing to service – six months faster than the world benchmark. It also began training the first cohort of 600 Egyptian engineers and technicians last month, as part of its commitment to building local expertise in Egypt, in tandem with the electricity ministry

Mark Smedley