The Sohar Aluminium Power Plant project achieved a major milestone last week with the arrival of its first Gas Turbine thermal block and its associated Generator.

The Gas Turbine thermal block, weighing 343 tonnes and 11.1 meters long, and the 230-tonne Gas Turbine Generator were unloaded at Sohar Port and transported to the Power Plant site by special trailers.

Located in the Sohar Industrial Area, the Power Plant will have four gas turbines and two steam turbines. Each of the Gas Turbines will produce 160 MW of power.

With a total generating capacity of 1000 MW, the plant will supply the smelter with the energy needed for aluminium production. Alstom are the turnkey contractor for the project.

“We can now move forward rapidly to erect all the ancillary equipment and achieve our handover to the aluminium smelter Operations team in November this year,” said Niall O’Byrne, General Manager of the Power Plant project.

Commenting on this major milestone, Brian Purchas, Power Plant Area Manager, said “A detailed transportation risk management plan was in place before starting the transportation activities to avoid any risk to equipment or personnel.”
“The use of specialized transportation and erection equipment facilitated the successful conclusion of this phase of the project.”

Sohar Aluminium’s shareholders are Oman Oil Company, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, and Alcan. The company was established in September 2004 to construct and operate a single AP35 potline aluminium smelter with an associated power plant.

The smelter is targeted to start its first production of hot metal in 2008.