GE wins $2.2 billion Algeria turbine contract

November 06, 2013 | Contracts, Economy

A woman who has never known gas or electricity warms herself 19 February 2001 by a fire in a makeshift home in Cherrata, 100 kms south of Algiers - AFP/AFP/File

A woman who has never known gas or electricity warms herself 19 February 2001 by a fire in a makeshift home in Cherrata, 100 kms south of Algiers – AFP/AFP/File

Algiers (AP) – General Electric Co. has won a $2.2-billion contract to provide turbines for six power plants in Algeria, state energy giant Sonelgaz announced on Sunday.

“GE has won the contract to provide the turbines with a total capacity of 8,400 megawatts for a sum of $2.2 billion,” Sonelgaz chief Nourredine Bouterfa told state radio.

Algeria plans to build six new power plants with capacities of between 1,200 and 1,600 megawatts each by 2017.

Bouterfa said the GE deal was part of Algeria’s efforts to construct its own power stations, buying the turbines only from foreign suppliers and not the complete plant.

He said the new plants would allow Algeria to put an end to the frequent power cuts that have hit consumers during periods of peak demand, particularly in the heat of the summer.