Albert Shigabutdinov, TAIF: ‘Tatarstan becomes not an importer of electric power but self-sufficient region’
The delegation of General Electric company, the global industry and digital technology leader has recently met in Kazan with the top managers of the enterprises of TAIF group of companies. The delegation was headed by GE Vice Chairman John Rice and Vice President and CEO of GE in Russia/CIS Ron Pollett. The companies have productively been cooperating for a long time. GE is participating in the project on modernization of Kazan CHP-3 power plant on the terms of 'turnkey' construction of the most efficient gas turbine. During the meeting, the representatives of large industrial companies discussed not only implemented energy projects but also new prospects for mutually beneficial partnership. The correspondent of Realnoe Vremya witnessed the talks held in Kazanorgsintez PJSC.
$1 billions of investments in Russia
GE has been working in Russia since the beginning of the 1920s, when in the country the large-scale electrification began. Today, GE in partnership with major Russian companies are involved in solution of the key infrastructure tasks in the energy sector, the oil and gas sector, transport engineering, healthcare. Over 1900 employees of the company work in Russia and the CIS, the regional headquarters of GE is in Moscow. The company is implementing the plan of investments at $1 bln in the development of oil and gas, power and transport sectors of Russia until 2020.
In May of 2014, TAIF JSC and GE signed a Memorandum on strategic cooperation in the implementation of projects on construction and modernization of objects of energy, oil refining and petrochemical enterprises of TAIF group of companies. The Memorandum determines the main directions of joint activities in 2014-2017 and provides the joint work in the framework of the signed contract for the construction of the new block of the gas turbine unit at Kazan CHP-3.
Before the meeting in Kazanorgsintez PJSC, the guests got acquainted with the progress of modernization of Kazan CHP-3, the energy facility of the subsidiary of TAIF TGC-16. The modernization has been designed to meet the growing energy demand of the inhabitants and industrial enterprises of Kazan and will give the possibility to reduce the deficit of electric power in the Kazan power district.
New gas turbine plant will also meet the growing demand of Kazan in thermal energy for heating and hot water to be generated in the most economical combined mode. This investment project will give an opportunity for TGC-16 JSC to maintain further the lowest in the Republic tariffs for heat.
The project manager for the construction of gas turbines from GE Anton Maslov said that today the construction process is completed at 70%. The works are being done according to the schedule, and putting of object into operation is planned for Q1 2017.
The records of TAIF
As soon as the parties sat at the negotiating table, Director General of TAIF JSC Albert Shigabutdinov turned to John Rice: 'How to accelerate the construction of new gas turbine plant?'
John Rice said that the teams were doing everything to ensure the project was completed on time and at the highest level of quality. The next 3-4 months will be crucial – by winter we must complete the works of testing the plant equipment.
'I am impressed by the speed and quality of the construction,' said John Rice. 'I would like to note that the success of projects like this depends not only on high-tech solutions but also on the smooth and efficient work of the partners involved. The teams at TAIF, GE, TGK-16, and GAMA are doing everything to ensure the project is completed on time and at the highest level of quality.'
Albert Shigabutdinov asked whether it was possible to increase the performance of the installation? As they have reasons: during recent tests a similar gas turbine achieved the capacity at 402 MW.
In France, the companies GE and EDF officially launched the energy unit, which includes the turbine 9HA.01 of GE production. After this, the unit was included in the Guinness Book of records in terms of the most highly efficient combined cycle power plant. The unit achieved the efficiency of fuel utilization at 62.22%. The gas turbine plant, a member of this energy unit, is an analogue to the gas turbine, which is installed at the Kazan CHP-3 in the framework of its reconstruction. Currently, the plant for its power and efficiency has no analogues in Russia.
'Indeed, the turbine, which we launched in France, has reached the record capacity and efficiency of electricity generation,' replied John Rice. 'The results of the tests and experience obtained in France gives us hopes that the contract figures of the gas turbine plant in Tatarstan will be not only met but exceeded.'
Complex service
'We previously spoke about the creation in Tatarstan of the center of technical maintenance of such gas turbine plants,' outlined a new topic for discussion Albert Shigabutdinov. 'Everything has been prepared — rooms, equipment, people.'
Director General of TAIF stressed that with the reaching new power capacities 'Tatarstan becomes not an importer of electricity but a self-sufficient region.' But any hitch in the flow of electricity creates a big problem for the Republic. Therefore, it is important to constantly monitor the work of power facilities and to react promptly to emerging problems.
They discussed the possibility of establishing a service center GE on the basis of Tulpar the Technik and the training of the service engineers of the company in the United States or in Russia.
John Rice promised to consider such possibility. For this, in 3 months a working group will be formed to assess the prospects of creating a service center that will be able to work with the customers not only the Volga Region but throughout Russia.
New energy capacities of Nizhnekamsk
The next issue on the agenda of the meeting was the use of GE equipment to increase the energy capacity of the Nizhnekamsk power district. Albert Shigabutdinov told about the necessity of creation of generating capacities in Nizhnekamsk with a capacity of at least 500 MW. This will require some gas turbine plants. The tender will be announced in August 2016, the contract must be signed before the end of the year in order to start the project in Q1 2017.
John Rice noted that the company is planning to participate in the tender and will offer the most possible efficient solution for that project, including in the part of financing.
GE is also planning to cooperate with Nizhnekamskneftekhim in terms of the delivery of integrated solutions for automation and monitoring of the exploited industrial equipment for a new ethylene complex plant.
The parties will also consider the possibility of joint work in other petrochemical projects of the TAIF group of companies. As Albert Shigaboutdinov noted, Kazanorgsintez, where it is planned to build a gas processing plant with a capacity at 27 billion cubic meters, it requires to install the compressors with the highest performance. GE agreed to supply the compressors of the latest generation for this project.
In conclusion, Albert Shigabutdinov outlined several promising areas for cooperation. They concern not only production facilities but also they can be associated with the minimization of losses in the municipal heating networks. 'For the population, such losses are very hard. We will probably have to deal with this issue,' said Albert Shigaboutdinov.