GE Energy announces state of the art technology centre in Saudi Arabia

Global supplier of power generation and energy delivery technologies, GE Energy, has announced the groundbreaking of its Power Technology Centre, Middle East, a new state-of-the-art service facility in Dammam, developed in association with GE's joint venture partner Ali A. Tamimi Co. With an investment of SAR280 million ($75 million USD), the centre will span 125,000 square feet and expand GE Energy's capabilities to serve its customers in the region.

GE Energy has a long-standing presence in the Middle East dating back to the 1930s and now employs more than 750 people in the region. GE's Gas Turbine technology is already well established in the region with 1017 turbines installed in key locations.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held today in Dammam with GE Energy and Ali A. Tamimi Co. management, as well as key national customers and government officials.

John Krenicki, President & CEO, GE Energy, who was in attendance at the ceremony, said, ''With the groundbreaking of the new service centre, GE Energy is further expanding its presence in the Kingdom and adding substantial capability to undertake advanced gas turbine repairs in reduced time cycles. Designed as a centre of Excellence, the Dammam facility reiterates our commitment to delivering innovation, advanced technology and quality services to our customers in the Middle East.''

Set to expand in phases, the new centre highlights GE's focus on local customer responsiveness through partnerships with Saudi companies, which complements the Kingdom's socio-economic growth initiatives, particularly 'Saudization,' a national policy encouraging the employment of Saudi nationals in the private sector. Expected to be operational in 2010, the facility will double the amount of GE's service technologists in the region.

''GE Energy's collaboration with our long-standing and joint venture partner, Ali A. Tamimi Co., and community organizations such as King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, enables us to deliver solutions specific to the region's requirements,'' said Mazen Al-Alami, GE Energy Country Executive for Saudi Arabia. ''This tailored and localized approach highlights our customer focus in the Middle East.''

Tariq Al-Tamimi, President, Ali A. Tamimi Co., said: ''The new centre will serve as a regional hub for the energy industry and will effectively complement and boost the current capability of the MEELSA (Middle East Engineering Limited Saudi Arabia) service centre, which our joint venture opened in 1976. The Dammam facility will enjoy localized support in all engineering and commercial aspects, which is important for long-run sustainability.''

The Power Technology centre will provide the latest in repair technology for B, E and F gas turbines, steam turbines and generators. It also will feature state-of-the-art coating facilities and lean flow/design for reduced time cycles, as well as a crane with a weight-capacity of 100 tons.