GE Energy’s Jenbacher Gas Engines to Bring Needed Power to Rural Bangladesh

A new 93-megawatt, independent power plant will feature GE Energy’s Jenbacher gas engines to provide needed power to thousands of homes in Bangladesh as part of major rural electrification initiative.

The project is one of the latest to be developed by independent power producers (IPPs) that are rapidly building new power plants— with government support — to improve electricity supplies in rural areas of Bangladesh that do not have reliable transmission grids.

Shahjibazar Power Co. Ltd., an independent power producer (IPP), recently ordered 32 of GE’s natural gas-fueled J620 GS Jenbacher engines, which will be installed at a site located about 180 kilometers north of Dhaka, the nation’s capital. This marks GE Energy’s largest order for Jenbacher gas engines.

IPP projects in Bangladesh, including Shahjibazar Power Co.'s new initiative, require government approval since they are also sponsored by the World Bank, underscoring the importance of these distributed energy projects to the nation’s economic growth.

"As Bangladesh’s economy continues to grow, the government and private sectors are seeking solutions to improve the country’s energy infrastructure,” said Prady Iyyanki, CEO of GE Energy’s Jenbacher gas engine business. "GE’s fuel-flexible Jenbacher engines are a cost efficient, highly reliable power generation solution, making them suitable for a variety of projects in Bangladesh and throughout South Asia.”

The units for the Shahjibazar project will be contained in two powerhouses and will generate 92.8 MW of electricity for the local grid. The engines are scheduled to be commissioned by the beginning of 2009.

GE’s authorized Jenbacher engine distributor for Bangladesh, Orient Energy Systems, secured the engine order. Through Orient Energy, GE is able to offer prompt and efficient local customer service to Shahjibazar Power Co. and other independent power producers in the region. More than 250 Jenbacher units have been sold in Bangladesh, creating an extensive energy industry awareness of the technology.

"GE’s Jenbacher gas engine technology offers the durability, reliability and performance we need to help assure the success of our rural electrification initiative in support of continued economic development throughout Bangladesh,” said Feroz Alam, Managing Director of Shahjibazar Power Co.

Shahjibazar Power Co.‘s project comes nearly a year after GE announced a major order by other IPPs for 28 natural gas-fueled Jenbacher units to be installed in four power plants in Bangladesh.

About GE Energy’s Jenbacher Gas Engines

GE Energy's Jenbacher gas engine business, based in Jenbach, Austria, is a leading manufacturer of gas-fueled reciprocating engines, packaged generator sets and cogeneration systems for power generation.

Jenbacher engines cover an output range of 0.25 to four MW and operate on natural gas or a variety of specialty fuels, including flare gas and coal mine gas or alternative fuels like biogas, landfill gas, wood gas, sewage gas and industrial waste gas. Patented combustion systems coupled with advanced engine and plant management systems enable customers to meet stringent international emission standards while offering high levels of efficiency, durability, and reliability.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges. In addition to various cogeneration applications, GE's Jenbacher biogas, landfill gas and coal mine methane engines previously received ecomagination certification, underscoring the environmental and economic benefits offered from the utilization of generating energy from high methane content waste streams.

About GE

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.

About Orient Energy Systems

Orient Energy Systems specializes in industrial engineering products, services & solutions. Established in 1996, the company has grown significantly to become a dynamic company in Bangladesh, Pakistan & UAE.

Today, Orient is recognized for representing one of the most advanced engineering technologies and helping its customers to achieve highly cost-effective outcomes. With more than 1,150 team members and more than 1,200 MW of installed power, Orient is a leading provider of turnkey solutions for customers in the region.

Orient offers specialized maintenance and overhaul services along with typical and sophisticated repairs for industrial gas engines through factory trained highly skilled service engineers. For more information, visit the company's Web site at (www.orient-power.com)