OREANDA-NEWS. August 29, 2012. GE (NYSE: GE) today announced that two of its aeroderivative gas turbines have been commissioned at a combined heat and power plant (CHP-1) in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, owned by OJSC (RAO Energy System of East). The two GE gas turbines make up the fifth generating block on-site. The two GE gas turbines have a total capacity of 91.2 megawatts (MW). This represents the first major launch in thermal generation in Sakhalin in 30 years.

Before the launch of the fifth block, Sakhalin lacked the required reserve capacity, and there were shortages when some generators were switched off. New power generating will provide the necessary reserve power capacity (109 MW). In addition, this also will allow phasing out obsolete generators at Sakhalin GRES power plant (12 MW will be decommissioned in this year).

The total project cost is 3.3 billion rubles. The project was fully funded by OJSC  RAO Energy System of East. GE’s LM6000-PF Sprint gas turbines meet all modern requirements including a low emissions level as compared with other turbines of this class.

Sergei Tolstoguzov, general director of OJSC RAO Energy System of East, said that the new generating unit would improve the reliability of power supply to Sakhalin residents, ensure the load distribution for quality scheduling of maintenance campaigns and create conditions for connecting of new consumers.

"This project emphasizes our commitment to remain a strategic partner and supplier of reliable and innovative technology to our Russian customers engaged in modernization and development of country's energy infrastructure," said Ron Pollett, president & CEO, GE in Russia/CIS.

In addition to participating in construction of the fifth generating block, OJSC RAO Energy System of East, which is one of the shareholders of OJSC Sakhalin Energy Company, took part in construction of the fourth generating block at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk CHP where GE’s LM6000-PF Sprint gas turbines also will be used. Its planned electric capacity is139.1 MW and thermal capacity is 133.5 Gcal/h. After the launch of the fourth generating unit, the reserve capacity in Sakhalin will reach 164 MW.