Steve Bolze, General Electric Power and Water President and CEO (center), with Hisham Al-Bahkali, GE's president for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain (right), and Ziyad Al-Shiha, CEO of Saudi Electricity Co., present the prototype design of the gas turbine during a presentation ceremony at the GE Manufacturing Technology Center in Dammam on Tuesday. Saeed Haider Saudi Gazette
DAMMAM – As part of its $1 billion investment commitment in Saudi Arabia, General Electric has announced manufacturing of its most advanced and high efficiency gas turbines at its GE Manufacturing Technology Center at Dammam Industrial City-II. During a customer reception Tuesday at its center, GE unfolded its multi-generation plan to continue developing manufacturing capability in the Kingdom and to manufacture its most advanced gas turbines at the Center which is expected to roll out in 2016. The plan 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. The expanded facility will create several direct and indirect jobs and will have the capability to produce 8-10 gas turbines per year, with ample room for expansion over time. At the function attended by several leading businessmen and corporate top executives, Ziyad Al-Shiha, CEO of Saudi Electricity Company, 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. The expansion of a local manufacturing facility can potentially drive localized innovation of turbines to help meet specific needs, thus, adding to our operational efficiency.” GE Power & Water President and CEO Steve Bolze said: “We are honored to have the opportunity to support the Kingdom in not only powering its industries, but to strengthen the skills of its people. A strong local manufacturing base, with a skilled workforce, robust supply chain, and the opportunity to produce the world's best technology, is a tremendous asset to a growing economy. 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.” The Manufacturing Technology Center in Dammam is an established center of excellence for gas turbine service and manufacturing, and today supports over 70 customers from 30 countries. With a workforce of 600, nearly 75 percent of them Saudis, the Center has delivered support to increase the performance of more than 550 gas turbines to date. GE, in its move to create Saudi nationals as leaders in both technology and manufacturing, has set up GE Technical Academy in Jubail Industrial City where a two-year training program will graduate approximately 150 students per year, adding to the highly-skilled Saudi talent pipeline needed for the Center's operations and expansion plans and for the SMEs in the local supply chain. In his closing remarks Hisham Albahkali, GE's President & 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.” — SG
