Lagos — Mitsubishi Power of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., MHI, has announced that it was awarded a long-term contract by the Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water and Renewable Energy, MEWRE, to optimize the performance of the Sabiya power and water distillation station and boost its efficiency, in line with Kuwait Vision 2035 to meet the country’s growing power needs.
The gas-fired combined-cycle power plant, located at Al Jahrah near Kuwait City, has a 2 GW current capacity. It is the largest power and water production facility in the country, having been developed in multiple stages over the past decade.
Under the new contract, Mitsubishi Power will provide major plant upgrade services and cutting-edge technologies to extend the plant’s lifetime by up to 20 years, according to a company announcement last week.
Mitsubishi Power will be responsible for the upgrade of eight units of steam turbines, generators (gas and oil-fired), and control systems units, while implementing innovative technology at the power station, such as Digital Electronic Hydraulic (DEH), new Turbine Protection System (TPS) and new Turbine Supervisory Instrument (TSI) controls.
Haitham Al-Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for Electric Power Stations and Water Distillation Sector, (MEWRE) said “We are delighted to award this strategic project to Mitsubishi Power, our long-term partner, to ensure the modernization of Sabiya with new and improved state-of-the-art power solutions,”
“As Kuwait embarks on its next phase of ambitious growth in line with Vision 2035, we are committed to continuing supporting the Ministry in expanding its power infrastructure and ushering its transition towards a low carbon society,” said Khalid Salem, President of Middle East & Africa at Mitsubishi Power.
Mitsubishi Power also provides technology solutions for the Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries, while also supplying vital equipment for Kuwait’s desalination stations.
Kuwait’s electricity sector is almost entirely powered by oil, fuel oil, and natural gas. MEWRE has moved to diversify its fuels portfolio and shift toward greater natural gas firing. However, the country has suffered blackouts and brownouts during peak demand periods in recent years as demand growth has exceeded power supply.
The Kuwait Vision 2035 calls for improving the performance of the country’s power and water infrastructure and sets out some modest renewable energy targets.
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