GE expands local capabilities to manufacture heavy duty gas turbines

GE has announced another significant milestone in its 80-year-history of operations in Saudi Arabia.
As part of its $1 billion investment commitment, the company stated that the GE Manufacturing Technology Center expansion, first announced in September 2012, will now feature manufacturing of GE’s most advanced, largest, high efficiency gas turbines.
The first high efficiency gas turbine will roll out of the center in 2016, bringing with it new engineering jobs and more opportunities for local suppliers.
At a customer reception, GE unfolded its multi-generation plan, which is designed to develop local talent and supply chain capabilities, match it with state-of-the-art facilities, and progress the scope, sophistication and quality of manufacturing at the center.
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) CEO Ziyad Al-Shiha said: “GE has been a long-term partner of SEC in driving our power plants by providing the latest in turbine technology and after-sales support.”
GE Power & Water President and CEO Steve Bolze said: “We are privileged to expand our long-standing commitment to the Kingdom and I look forward to being here in 2016 when that first gas turbine rolls out of the center.”
Marking its third year of operations, the center is an established organization of excellence for gas turbine service and manufacturing.
Currently, more than 150 different gas turbine parts are being produced by GE-qualified and trained Saudi suppliers, thereby making local enterprises part of GE’s global supply chain.
Hisham Albahkali, GE’s president and CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, said: “As a committed partner in the progress of the country’s competitiveness, GE has achieved significant milestones with the GE Manufacturing Technology Center, which has enhanced the entire energy supply chain, fueled the growth of SMEs, created new jobs and deepened the hands-on technical expertise of Saudi engineers.”