BHEL's first gas turbine in Libya commissioned

The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) commissioned its first 150-mega watt gas turbine in Libya last week. The turbine was commissioned at General Electricity Company's upcoming 600-Mw (4x150 Mw) gas turbine-based Western Mountain Power Project at Al Garbi. The BHEL is setting up the 600-Mw gas-based power station on a turnkey basis.

The Rs 1,100 crore-plus order for the station was placed with the BHEL in March 2003 to make use of the region's gas reserves. The BHEL is in the process of installing three more units of similar rating at the Western Mountain Power Project. The plant is expected to become fully operational by June 2006.

Once completed, the project will be the largest power plant set up by the BHEL overseas. The plant is the highest rating power plant equipment to be exported from India as well as the highest rating gas turbine commissioned by the company in the international market so far.

The BHEL has an export order for four such turbines, which the company claims is the single largest overseas order received by any capital goods manufacturer in India.