OREANDA-NEWS. March 22, 2011. The country's first indigenous 250-MW advanced Class 9 Fa+e Gas Turbine manufactured by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) here was tested and despatched to the customer, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (GSPC), Pipava, in Gujarat, on Monday.

According to a press released issued by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Executive Director of the company R. Krishnan and Executive Director (PE&SD) R.K. Wanchoo flagged off the gas turbine from the newly-built Fram-9 Gas Turbine block. The turbine, weighing a humongous 300 tonnes, will be transported through the Machilipatnam port to reach the destination in 35 days.

The turbine was carried in a 140-wheel trawler to be transported to the Machilipatnam port by road. Valued at Rs. 400 crore, it was successfully tested in the first attempt on February 17 in the Ramachandrapuram unit. Successful establishment of this facility will enable Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited to achieve its objective of desired capacity addition to the country's power requirements. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited unit's INTUC president G. Yellaiah and other General Managers were present.