China turbines

GE Energy has secured a $115m (£69.5m) service agreement with Fujian Jinjiang Gas Power for the four Frame 9FA gas turbines at its plant on the coast of Taiwan Strait.

The contract includes parts, services, repairs and training as well as an inspection period for the turbines, which are based on GE's core technology and supplied by Harbin Power Equipment Company.

The plant produces more than 1,560MW and is a central part of the local government's initiative of increasing the province's power generation capacity to 3,500MW by 2010. The nine-year contract with GE is expected to support these plans by improving the reliability and efficiency of the plant.

Dan Heintzelman, president of energy services for GE Energy, said: ‘The new agreement underscores our continuing commitment to help our customers in China and worldwide meet growing economic and societal needs.

'Our service agreements are designed to provide customers with access to our latest technology, enabling them to maximise the productivity of their power generation assets and help control both emissions and operating costs.’

The Fujian Jinjiang contract is the group's second major service announcement in China this year and follows two service and maintenance agreements for the combined-cycle plant in Zhejiang Province and a refining and petrochemical plant in Fujian Province.