GE’s (www.GE.com/Power) MXL2 Turbine Upgrade Will Help Increase Power Output by 30 megawatts (MW) at Azito’s plant in the Yopougon district of the Ivory Coast; GE’s Upgrade and Predix Asset Performance Management (APM) Software will Help Improve Plant Competitiveness; The Project Marks GE’s First Digital Solutions Order and First GT13E2 MXL2 Full Modules Configuration Gas Turbine upgrade installation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

With a focus on improving power plant output, reliability, availability and operational performance as well as gaining data and insights for predictive maintenance of assets, Azito Energie S.A. (www.AzitoEnergie.com) today announced that it has signed a contract with GE (NYSE:GE) (www.GE.com/Power) to deploy its Predix Asset Performance Management (APM) (https://invent.ge/2Q2BNJ7) software for two GT13E2 gas turbines and two generators at the Azito III plant site, located in the Yopougon district of  Ivory Coast. In addition, the companies announced the successful execution of GE’s MXL2 upgrade solution for the first GT13E2 gas turbine, which will increase the plant’s production by 15 megawatts (MWs), which is equivalent power for up to 120,000 homes. The upgrade on the second unit is set to be implemented later in the year.  A first-of-its kind project in Sub Saharan Africa, this flagship upgrade combined with the digital solutions, is paving the way for additional total plant solutions across the region.

“We’re excited that GE’s hardware solutions are helping us to improve our plant competitiveness, modernizing our existing assets and achieving our sustainability goals. It is a strategic move for Azito to support the country’s energy and economic priorities,” said Luc Aye, General manager, Azito Energie S.A. “With plant output already increasing by up to 30MWs with our selection of GE’s MXL2 technology, we are keen on leveraging digital technology and knowledge management to further improve on our plant overall performance. Operational efficiency, reliability and availability of our assets have always been our key focus.”

GE successfully executed the MXL2 upgrade on the first unit, comprising turbine, compressor and combustor modules, without any loss time to injury and a workforce that was predominantly 95% local. Designed to be compatible with all installed GT13E2 units, the MXL2 upgrade combines GE’s latest technology developments and over 10 million operating hours of GT13E2 fleet experience. This upgrade allows operators to benefit from increased efficiency, improved power output, and significantly extended service intervals. This upgrade also helps extend the lifetime of the asset and improve availability of power with fewer C-inspections.

“We are continuing our commitment to invest in and deliver total gas plant solutions for plant operators to add more megawatts on the grid across the region,” said Elisee Sezan, CEO, for GE’s Gas Power business in Sub-Saharan Africa. “The Azito plant will produce more efficient and reliable power for the citizens and the economy, paving the way for additional holistic upgrades across the region,” he added.

Under this contract, the APM software will provide real-time unified visibility into the health of assets critical to the customer —all in one place. It can predict and accurately diagnose issues with greater accuracy before they occur with the help of predictive analytics, while generating the root cause analysis of events and providing a framework for the resolution of identified issues.

“The power industry today is rapidly evolving with fluctuating market conditions — fuel prices, workforce, energy demand and supply among many others, either internally or externally, that affect business operations,” said Narendra Asnani, Commercial Operations Executive for GE’s Power Service business in Sub-Saharan Africa. “These dynamics make data analytics very crucial to the success of business operations. Yet, power operators find it difficult to analyze this data holistically across one or multiple plants and resort to traditional operations, which consists of multiple systems, each designed to measure and monitor in silos. With a vast understanding of this challenge, GE’s decades of power plant technology leadership with digitally-driven solutions helps customers like Azito take advantage of valuable insights and data that deliver innovative business outcomes”.

GE is a historical player and a pioneer in Ivory Coast, particularly in the power sector.