SIEMENS Energy and its consortium partner GS E&C have completed and commissioned the two turnkey combined-cycle power plant (CCPP) projects Sohar 2 and Barka 3 in Oman on schedule.

In 2012, both units went into operation in simple-cycle mode to help meet the country’s strongly growing demand for electric power. Following steam turbine add-ons, both plants have commenced commercial operation in combined-cycle configuration in April 2013 – well in time to meet peak electricity demand during summer. With their total electrical generating capacity of 1.5 GW, these two plants increase the sultanate’s current existing capacity of 4.5 GW to approximately 6 GW.

Sohar 2 was built in the Sohar Industrial Park approximately 200 km northwest of Muscat, while Barka 3 was erected in the immediate vicinity of Muscat. For each of these plants, Siemens supplied the main components comprising two SGT5-4000F gas turbines, one SST5-5000 steam turbine, three SGen5-2000H generators, the electrical equipment and the SPPA-T3000 instrumentation and controls system. The consortium partner GS E&C supplied the heat recovery steam generators and was responsible for other scopes such as the civil construction work, electrical transformers and ancillary systems as well as equipment installation.

Siemens has been active in Oman since 1974, playing an important part in many of Oman’s major power plant projects over the past 40 years. “As an EPC partner, our customers can benefit from our expertise in integrating the mechanical, electrical and chemical processes of fossil fuel power plants,” says Lothar Balling, head of gas turbine power plant solutions at Siemens Energy’s Fossil Power Generation Division. “At both Sohar 2 and Barka 3 we succeeded on schedule in achieving reliable technological excellence by wedding quality in project planning and project execution.”

Purchaser of the project-financed plants was a consortium led by the French utility GDF Suez. Al Batinah Power Company is the owner of Sohar 2 Power Station, while Al Suwadi Power Company owns Barka 3. The two plants will be operated by Suez-Tractebel Operation and Maintenance Oman LLC (Stomo).