Karachi - MENA Herald: GE (NYSE: GE) signed agreements to provide advanced digital industrial software solutions to Lalpir Power Ltd. and Pakgen Power Ltd., operators of Nishat Group’s thermal power plants located in Mehmood Kot near Muzaffargarh, in Pakistan.
Each facility has a capacity of 365 megawatts (MW), and the new contracts signal the continuing adoption of software within Pakistan’s power sector, including for plants equipped with non-GE steam turbines and generators.
The agreements were signed at a ceremony in Dubai by Hassan Mansha, Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lalpir Power Ltd. and Pakgen Power Ltd. and Joe Anis, President & CEO of GE’s Power Services business in the Middle East and Africa.
The software solutions provided by this agreement will further the Government of Pakistan’s goals under Vision 2025 to provide uninterrupted and affordable electricity, and increase electricity access from 67% to over 90% of the population.
“As one of the leading conglomerates in Pakistan, Nishat Group is always looking for the latest innovation and most advanced solutions to strengthen operational performance across its many facilities,” said Hassan Mansha. “GE’s industrial expertise in the power sector, advanced digital competencies, and proven track record in the country gave us the confidence to adopt their solutions to improve the reliability of operations at our power plants.”
Powered by Predix, GE’s operating system for the Industrial Internet, GE’s Digital Power Plant includes a suite of software solutions that can enable Lalpir and Pakgen to visualize plant performance, analyze and monitor operations in real time and help identify maintenance issues before they occur, leading to greater asset uptime and reduced unplanned downtime. GE estimates there is US$1.3 trillion in value creation between now and 2025 for companies that are going digital, and US$90 billion is expected to be invested in the energy industry’s digitization by 2020.
“Pakistan has been a global leader in adopting GE’s advanced digital industrial solutions,” said Joe Anis. “Through these new agreements with Lalpir and Pakgen, we are proud to further strengthen our contribution to providing customers in the country with the means to augment asset life cycles and enhance operational reliability.”
“At GE, we are committed to supporting the government meet its goals of providing reliable power to improve the lives of the people of Pakistan,” said Sarim Sheikh, President & CEO of GE Pakistan and Central Asia. “Together with customers such as Lalpir and Pakgen, we can build a better, more prosperous tomorrow for Pakistan, one which meets the aspirations of present and future generations.”
Lalpir and Pakgen operate the largest steam turbines deployed in Pakistan. The agreements with them also underscore GE’s enhanced capabilities and comprehensive experience of technologies developed by other original equipment manufacturers (oOEM) in the thermal power sector, after its acquisition of Alstom’s energy portfolio in 2015.
Lalpir Power Ltd. and Pakgen Power Ltd. are a part of the Nishat Group of companies, one of the region’s leading and most diverse business groups with commercial interests in the finance, insurance, cement, textile, paper, power, dairy, hospitality and aviation sectors amongst others in Pakistan. The Group has an asset base exceeding US$10 billion and has played a vital role in the industrial development of Pakistan in terms of contributions to the national exchequer, job generation and textiles exports.
GE has been a long term partner in Pakistan’s progress for more than 50 years, creating over 400 employment opportunities in the country. Today, GE-built technologies generate more than 25% of Pakistan’s electricity, while GE and its joint venture partners power more than 60% of the aircraft operated by Pakistani commercial carriers and GE Healthcare devices are installed in more than 70% of large hospitals across the country.
