General Electric to build Mongolia’s first wind farm project

GE signs $100m wind power deal to equip Mongolia’s first wind farm
General Electric (GE) is to supply turbines to Mongolia’s first wind farm in a $100m deal, the company says. The US manufacturer will provide its 1.6MW machines to the Salkhit Wind Farm, located 70km southeast of Ulaanbaatar. GE estimated the cost of the Salkhit Wind Power Plant at $100 million but didn’t put a value on the wind turbines.

General Electric Co. said its wind turbines will be used on a Mongolian wind farm being built by Newcom LLC, a diversified company based in the northeast Asian country.

GE estimated the cost of the Salkhit Wind Farm at $100 million but didn’t put a value on the wind turbines themselves. The Fairfield, Conn., conglomerate described the deal as its "entry to Mongolia" and "a strategic move."

The statement said the wind energy project, due to open in 2012 about 70 kilometers (about 40 miles) southeast of the capital, would supply electricity equal to about 5% of Mongolia’s current installed electric-power generating capacity.

"This is a milestone in the development of GE’s relationship with Mongolia and our teaming with Newcom," GE Vice Chairman John Rice was quoted as saying in the statement. Energy demand in Mongolia is increasing by 8-10% a year.

By José Santamarta, www.ge.com