Two Endesa Projects Featuring GE Technology to Help Meet Growing Power Needs in Chile
NEW ORLEANS, LA.-December 11, 2007-Endesa Chile S.A. has selected GE Energy turbine technology for two new projects, including one of Chile's largest pulverized coal thermal power plants, which is expected to help meet the country's growing energy requirements.
For the Bocamina II project, GE plans to supply a model RH D5, sub-critical steam turbine that is among the first 350-megawatt class steam turbines to be installed in the region. Located in Bio-Bio in central Chile, the plant would burn imported bituminous coal, but also have the flexibility to use a wide variety of other coals, including local sub-bituminous coal.
In the second project, GE is providing two 125-megawatt, Frame 9E gas turbine-generators for the Quintero Power Plant, also located in central Chile north of Santiago. Initially, plans are for the gas turbines to operate on diesel oil, but later switch to liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is expected to be supplied from an LNG terminal to be constructed nearby.
"With one of South America's most robust economies, Chile is looking to increase its energy output, and we are pleased our technology can support that effort," said Guillermo Brooks, GE Energy's Region Executive for Latin America. "The Bocamina II and Quintero projects build on a long-standing relationship between GE and Endesa, which has the largest installed capacity of any electricity generating company in Chile."
The GE equipment for the Bocamina II project, which is scheduled to enter service in 2010, would be manufactured primarily in Schenectady, N.Y. The scope of GE's contract also includes technical advisory services for the equipment installation, spare parts and training. Maire Engineering SpA of Turin, Italy is the main EPC contractor for the project, while other consortium partners include Tecnimont Chile, Maire Engineering do Brasil and Slovenske Energeticke Strojarne (SES).
The GE gas turbines for the Quintero project are planned to be manufactured primarily at GE Energy's facilities in Greenville, S.C., and the plant is expected to enter service in the first half of 2009. Plans are for GE to also provide technical advisory services, technical direction for installation, spare parts and training, with an option for an operation and maintenance agreement.
Endesa Chile is one of the largest electricity generation companies in Latin America, with investments in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Brazil. GE has provided Endesa with gas turbines for projects in the past, but Bocamina marks the first time GE has supplied the company with steam turbine technology.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2006 revenue of $19 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
For more information, contact:
Cassandra Garber
GE Energy
+1 678 844 5353
cassandra.garber@ge.com
Ken Darling or Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
+1 518 786 6488
howard.masto@ge.com
kenneth.darling@ge.com
