Acwa Power Barka plant returns to full capacity

JOMAR MENDOZA - MUSCAT, JAN 29 - Acwa Power Barka has announced that its power plant facility in Barka has returned to full capacity after a gas turbine, which was the subject of a series of technical faults over the past two months, has been successfully repaired and brought into operation. In a filing to the Capital Market Authority (CMA), Acwa Power Barka said, “Repair activities on Gas Turbine 1 (GT-1) have been successfully completed,” with the machine synchronised with the grid and declared available to the off-taker — Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP). “Arranging a new stator, managing its delivery from Europe — especially during Christmas (and) New Year period — and completing its installation, testing, and commissioning in such a short span of time is a great accomplishment and unprecedented,” the company added. The update comes just over two months when the Acwa Power announced on November 12 that “an earth fault in electricity generator unit” had affected GT-1”. The company estimated that its loss of revenue and cost of repairs could be in the range of RO 2 million. In its latest filing, the company said the repair was “only made possible due to the untiring efforts of the team,” which was supported by Italian power engineering company Ansaldo Energia. “As a result, the plant is back to its full capacity. The company is working very closely with its loss adjustors/insurers on this matter,” the firm added.