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Kurdistan plant to deploy GE Vernova technology

30 April 2025

The 1,250 MW Bazyan power plant in the Iraqi Kurdistan region will deploy the US-based GE Vernova’s first upgrade of its Advanced Gas Proven (AGP) technology that runs on its 9E.03 gas turbine fleet.

GE Vernova said the technology, known as AGP Xpand, can increase the output of its 9E.03 gas turbines by up to about 7%, with an approximately 1% incremental efficiency.

Taurus Energy, a portfolio company of Onex Group, operates the Bazyan power plant. Onex Group is a private energy group with a portfolio of power generation, utilities, energy trading, shipping and refining companies.

Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Kamal Mohammad Salih Khalil, minister of electricity in the Kurdistan Regional Government, and Steven Bitner, consul general at the US Consulate General Erbil, along with other senior government officials and local business leaders witnessed the signing of the agreement held in Sulaymaniyah.

In addition to increasing the gas turbines’ efficiency, the technology enables exhaust energy to increase by up to 2.6% to produce more steam or power, for combined heat and power (CHP) plants or combined-cycle plants, like the Bazyan power plant.

Four GE Vernova 9E.03 and two 9F.04 gas turbines power the Bazyan power plant, which uses natural gas as the primary fuel source and light fuel oil as backup fuel.

Taurus designed and engineered the power plant for baseload operations with an expected lifetime of 25-30 years.

The AGP Xpand upgrade is expected to enhance the current capacity and deliver additional, much-needed electricity to the Kurdistan Region as well as to nearby cities and governorates such as Mosul and Salahaddin.

In addition, GE Vernova and Taurus Energy signed a new 17-year long-term service agreement covering four GE Vernova 9E units with the first 9E rotor life extension package in Iraq.

“By utilising Kurdistan Region’s natural gas resources and power generation capacity, we are laying the foundation to create an energy hub,” said Saad Tayeb Hasan, Onex founder and chairman.

“Through projects like Bazyan, we can contribute to the efforts to meet local energy needs as well as transmit additional power to other parts of the country.”

According to GE Vernova, it has added more than 19GW of power capacity in Iraq since 2011, built and energised more than 30 substations since 2015, and mobilised over $3bn in financing for energy projects since 2015.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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