GE has announced it has won contracts worth more than $500 million from Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) for four power plant expansions.

The expansions will add 1,680 megawatt of power to the Saudi grid, more than half of SEC’s planned annual increase of 3,000 megawatts. According to SEC, the kingdom’s electricity demand has been growing at the rate of about 6 per cent a year.

'These contracts bring GE Energy orders for SEC projects in the last two years alone to over $2 billion. To date, GE Energy power generation technology and services are supporting the generation of nearly half of the kingdom’s installed capacity,' GE said in a statement.

Ali Saleh Al Barrak, president and CEO, SEC, commented: 'These fast-tracked plant expansions are designed to meet peak summer demands. Our customers expect reliability, and over the years GE has built a reputation we can count on and trust. A stellar history of on-time delivery and well-proven gas turbine technology has made our 40-year relationship with GE a success story, with more than 400 GE turbines that are supporting close to 40 SEC projects around the kingdom.'

Joseph Anis, GE Energy’s president and CEO for the Middle East, stated: 'Our ability to respond to our customers’ technology requirements and deliver fast-track projects on a large scale is a core capability of GE.'

Anis added: 'As the leading energy technology provider in Saudi Arabia, GE continues to deliver localised power generation solutions to our long-time customers such as SEC and provide advanced technical training with our growing technology transfer and knowledge-sharing initiatives.'

In addition to supplying power generation technology, GE is providing all four plant expansions with technical advisory services as well as performance testing, which are critical to the successful installation of the plants. The company is also providing training for SEC technical teams to support them in the operation of the plants. Through the close relationship with SEC, GE has provided training to an increasing number of local SEC engineers and technicians annually. It has steadily grown its local team to enhance customer service.

The new power plant expansion projects to which GE will be supplying include:

• A 600-megawatt expansion of the SEC power plant in Qurayyah. GE will provide three 7FA gas turbines, one D11 steam turbine and four generators for combined-cycle service at the plant, which will supply additional power to Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region.

• A 480-megawatt expansion of the PP-10 power plant 40 km south of Riyadh City. GE will supply eight Frame 7EA gas turbines and generators, which will join 32 GE Frame 7EA gas turbines already installed at the site. GE’s 7EA gas turbines currently comprise more than 40 per cent of SEC’s total fleet. The plant expansion will support the electricity needs of Saudi Arabia’s Central Region.

• A 480-megawatt SEC power plant expansion at Qassim, 350 km north of Riyadh. GE has implemented two previous expansions at this site. For the latest extension, GE will provide eight Frame 7EA gas turbines and generators for simple cycle service, supporting SEC to meet the power needs of Saudi
Arabia’s Central Region.

Anis: GE involvement going stronger by the day

• A 120-megawatt expansion of the SEC power facility near Tabouk. GE will supply two Frame 7EA gas turbines and generators for simple-cycle duty at the site, which serves the Western Region.

The Engineering Procurement Contracting (EPC) company for the SEC power plants at Qurrayah, Qassim and PP10 will be Arabian Bemco. The EPC company for the SEC power facility near Tabouk will be Al Toukhi Construction Group.

With nearly 80 years of experience in Saudi Arabia and 800 employees in the kingdom, GE has expanded its energy presence in the country through public-private partnerships and a strong footprint of facilities providing service repair support and customer training centres in power, water and oil and gas.

In the last two years alone, GE has invested over $100 million in Saudi Arabia. In addition to its existing seven facilities, GE will soon inaugurate its landmark GE Energy Manufacturing Technology Centre in Dammam, one of GE’s largest worldwide. GE has also established an advanced energy training centre, the GE Saudi Water and Process Technology Centre and a manufacturing facility for heat exchangers in association with Ali A Tamimi & Co.

As part of its commitment to knowledge sharing, GE has established the GE Energy Fuel Research Centre at the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals as well as several leadership development and cooperative learning programmes with leading institutions.