Port Harcourt refinery set to return to full production capacity

As part of efforts to boost the productivity of the country’s oil refinery at Port Harcourt, GE’s Distributed Power business is supplying GEL Utility Limited with three 25-megawatt (MW), trailer-mounted, TM2500+ aero-derivative gas turbines to generate uninterrupted power at the refinery.

The installation by GEL Utility Limited of GE’s mobile gas turbines at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) facility will ensure the country’s largest oil refinery has the power it needs to overcome chronic grid outages and return to full capacity for refining, according to a statement credited to GE Africa.

Up to now, grid outages have reduced PHRC’s output to 30 percent of its total maximum capacity of 210,000 barrels per day, the statement said, adding that the outages and other factors have forced Nigeria to import large volumes of refined petroleum products to meet its domestic needs.

To help address these issues, Genesis Electricity Limited, an independent power producer (and one of the owners of GEL Utility Limited) is said to have 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 49-year-old refinery.

The TM2500+ gas turbines will provide both the base-load and back-up power to support refinery operations. The agreement also includes the future modernisation of Nigeria’s other two refineries.

Akinwole Omoboriowo, chief executive officer of Genesis Electricity Limited, 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.”
He said the 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.

The three TM2500+ units will enter commercial operation in August 2014, giving PHRC the power it needs to return to full capacity, the statement said. As a result, Nigeria will be able to drastically reduce its use of imported refined fuel products.

“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,” said Lorraine Bolsinger, president and chief executive officer of GE’s Distributed Power business.