Siemens turbines used for expansion of Bolivian Power Plants start their journey

Siemens announced that its first gas turbines to be used for the expansion of three power plants in Bolivia have started their way to South America. The two machines, manufactured at Siemens Industrial Turbo machinery in Finspang, were loaded onto a heavy load carrier in the harbor of Norrköping, Sweden.

The cargo with more than 170 tons will travel first up to 14,000 kilometers on sea route to the harbor of Arica in Chile. From there the modules will be transported to Bolivia traveling additional 1,800 kilometers in partially rough terrain. In total, power plant equipment from three continents will be delivered to Bolivia and up to 400 heavy load transports will cross the Andes to bring equipment to the three power plant construction sites. The two gas turbines will be installed to drive the electrical generators and produce steam to drive the steam turbine and thus increasing the efficiency of the power plant to more than 50 percent.

Siemens will supply 14 industrial gas turbines, eleven steam turbines and further power plant equipment to expand the Termoeléctrica del Sur, Termoeléctrica de Warnes and Termoeléctrica Entre Rios plants for combined cycle operation. With the expansion projects, Siemens and its Spanish consortium partner TSK are adding more than one gigawatt to the Bolivian power grid. The projects will increase the installed power generating capacity of Bolivia’s National Interconnected System by 66 percent, provide a reliable energy supply for the local population and lay the foundation for a possible electricity export.

Siemens Power and Gas Division CEO, Willi Meixner said that with this project they achieve the fastest, most efficient and most cost-effective expansion of the power generating capacities in Bolivia. The country will save a lot of natural gas by the distinct increase of efficiency of the three power plants. And of course also the environment will benefit. Modern technologies will make a significant contribution to improve access to electricity for the growing population and the developing economy.

Image: In total, power plant equipment from three continents will be delivered to Bolivia and up to 400 heavy load transports will cross the Andes to bring equipment to the three power plant construction sites (Source: Siemens)