OREANDA-NEWS. June 15, 2015. Russian energy company OJSC “Generating Company” has awarded GE (NYSE: GE) Power Generation Services a 16-year contractual service agreement (CSA) for the new Kazanskaya CHP-2 combined-cycle gas power plant in Kazan in the Russian region of Tatarstan. GE was awarded the CSA to ensure the long-term availability of the power plant’s GE-supplied gas turbines to meet the industrialized area’s strong energy demands.

Kazan CHP-2 has a total installed capacity of 410 megawatts (MW). The power plant contains a 220-MW combined-cycle gas turbine block featuring two of GE’s 6FA gas turbines, two KTZ steam turbine generators and two Ema Alliance heat recovery steam generators.

Because OJSC “Generating Company” had limited GE gas turbine maintenance experience, it turned to GE, which has the technology expertise and local services capabilities to ensure the plant’s long-term availability. GE operates a local service center that employs more than 100 people in Kaluga and an engineering center that employs more than 40 people in Moscow.

“We awarded GE the CSA because they have the technology expertise and proven gas turbine services track record to help make sure that our Kazanskaya CHP-2 power plant operates at the highest levels of reliability,” said Galiullin Radik Zavitovich, director of Kazan CHP-2 OJSC “Generating Company” branch. “We expect that the services provided by the GE team will help us to extend the turbines’ life cycle, improving performance and ensuring CHP operating status.”

To meet OJSC “Generating Company’s” goals, GE upgraded the GE 6FA gas turbines with OpFlex* advanced controls software, including Transient Stability (ETS) and Cold Day Performance solutions to further boost gas turbine reliability. ETS provides robust combustor operability in the face of grid frequency and load instabilities. Cold Day Performance allows gas turbines to operate at higher loads during cold temperatures.

As a result of the upgrades, GE and OJSC “Generating Company” expect to see a 1.6 percent increase in power plant output during the colder seasons.

“We are extremely pleased that OJSC “Generating Company” awarded us the CSA to help ensure they meet their energy production and capacity supply targets,” said Ramon Paramio, Europe general manager for GE Power Generation Services—GE Power & Water. “This CSA reflects the confidence OJSC ‘Generating Company’ has in both our technology and our regional services capabilities in Russia to deliver the excellent service they need to optimize plant performance.”

GE was previously awarded the contract to supply the two 6FA gas turbines to IED Holding Company, the engineering procurement and construction firm that developed the Kazan CHP-2 station for OJSC “Generating Company.” The two gas turbines were commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2014.

GE has an overall installed base of 28 heavy-duty gas turbines in Russia.

* Trademark of General Electric Company.