OREANDA-NEWS. Calik Enerji signing the first energy contract of 2014 in Libya, will construct a cycle plant with a capacity of 542 MW in Khoms that is 120 kilometers to the capital city, Tripoli. Libyan Acting Minister of Energy Dr. Ali Muhammed Mhareig welcomed Calik Holding Chairman Ahmet Calik and his team.

"After the revolution, we sign the first large scale project contract with Calik Enerji. Welcome to Libya." said Dr. Mhareig. Calik Holding Chairman gave a speech before signing the protocol with Libyan Ministry of Energy. "Our goal is to put the first unit of the plant in use in a short and ambitious period, which is 9 months and 10 days." said Mr. Calik.

The signature ceremony for Khoms Simple Cycle Plant that is planned to supply 8 percent of the total installed power of Libya was held in Tripoli, the capital of Libya. The contract for the construction of this power plant that will employ 800 individuals was signed by GECOL CEO Addel Hakeem F.Layas on behalf of Libyan Government and Libyan Minister of Energy, and Calik Enerji General Manager Osman Saim Dinc. Libyan Acting Minister of Energy Dr. Ali Muhammed Mhareig gave a speech before the signature ceremony that Tufan Hobek, Turkey's Counselor at its Tripoli Embassy, attended. "We are making another critical investment that we plan in order to provide uninterrupted energy to Libya." said Dr. Mhareig.

"This power plant which will be constructed with the most advanced technological equipments of the world will be installed by Calik Enerji, whose knowledge and experience we believe in strongly. The technical employees, who will work at the plant, will be subjected to training within the body of General Electric in the U.S.A. Due to the increasing energy demand in Libya, we expect Calik Enerji to complete this project and put into service as soon as possible. I want to say welcome to Calik Enerji on behalf of our country."

Calik Holding Chairman Ahmet Calik, who began his speech by thanking Libyan Government, Officers of Libyan Ministry of Energy and GECOL Management for the trust they have in them for realizing such a critically important project for Libya, assured that the facility will be established by using the most advanced technological equipments of the world.

Ahmet Calik reminded that the maintenance and repair services of the gas turbines will be provided by Calik Enerji for 12 years besides the construction of the plant that will run with oil and natural gas and that the GECOL employees will go through training in the geographies where American General Electric have its headquarters and offices and thus they allocated a budget of two million dollars for this training.