GE has signed contracts worth $300 million with the Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC) to supply 13 gas turbines and associated services for the expansion of six power plants across the country. The expansions will add nearly 800 MWs of power to the Saudi grid by the summer of 2013, timed to support peak electricity demands.
This deal brings the number of GE turbines delivered to SEC projects to nearly 200 in the last five years. GE power generation technology and services currently support nearly half of Saudi Arabia's electricity generation.
"The expansion projects are part of our overall strategy to add an average of 4000 MW of power annually to the grid in Saudi Arabia as we continue to face a growing demand for reliable electricity," said Eng. Ali Saleh Al Barrak, president and CEO for SEC.
"We have been working with GE for more than 40 years, and the new contracts reflect our continued trust in GE's power generation solutions and ability to respond to our technology requirements and meet compressed project schedules," he said.
GE will provide technical advisory services and performance testing, in addition to the turbines themselves. GE will also provide training for SEC engineers in the operation and maintenance of the gas turbines.
"We are very pleased to support SEC in their efforts to bring reliable electricity to rural regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said Joseph Anis, president and CEO of GE Energy in the Middle East.
"As the leading energy provider in Saudi Arabia, GE continues to deliver localized power generation solutions to our long-time customers such as SEC and provide technology transfer to the region through our advanced technical training and knowledge sharing initiatives."
The 13 gas turbines will be manufactured in GE's factory in Greenville, South .Carolina., USA, and will be delivered to the various sites during the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, with commercial operation to begin in May 2013, in time to meet the summer peak demand.