- Employs about 400 Technologists to Support Saudi’s Growing Energy Infrastructure
- Serving more than 50 Customers in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe
- Extended Service Support for over 450 Gas Turbines to Increase Efficiency
- Training more than 100 Saudi Students as Part of the GE Joint Technical Program
DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA—July 3, 2012—Achieving a series of firsts in technology, customer services and the development of local talent, the Dammam-based GE Energy (NYSE: GE) Manufacturing Technology Center has successfully completed its first year of operations.
The Saudi technology center achieved key milestones in the delivery of service technology to Saudi and global customers, enabling enhanced operational efficiencies along the entire energy value chain, while continuing to drive the development of Saudi human resources. These achievements are in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2020 goals of promoting localization and empowering national talent towards a knowledge-based economy.
As GE’s largest energy facility of its kind today, the GE Energy Manufacturing Technology Center marked a SAR 1 billion (US$250 million) investment by GE, underlining the company’s long-term commitment to the Kingdom.
Joseph Anis, president and CEO for GE Energy in the Middle East said, “Not only is the center a fulfillment of our promise of better service through localized technology to our customers, it is testament to our long-term commitment to the Kingdom. Through the center, GE is proud to be serving the technology and service needs of its long-term customers including Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Aramco, Marafiq and SABIC. We are also proud of the center’s focus on technical talent development to support the Kingdom’s growing energy infrastructure and further establish the Kingdom as a technology hub for the global energy industry.”
To complement the human development goal outlined in Saudi Vision 2020, the facility is employing about 400 technologists and training another 100 under the Saudi GE Joint Technical Program (JTP). Program participants are being trained in key areas of maintenance and repair of gas turbines, electrical motors and generators that are critical to the efficient generation of electricity in the Kingdom. More than 60 percent Saudization has been achieved to date at the technology center.
In its first year, the center has serviced 450 gas turbines that power the Kingdom, with GE today supporting the generation of half of the Kingdom’s electricity through more than 500 turbines installed at various sites. The center also provides extended service to more than 50 key customers based in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, underling its competencies to help local and global customers achieve operational efficiencies with advanced and localized technology and services.
A joint venture with Ali A. Tamimi Co, the center consists of three key main components: a manufacturing facility of high technology equipment for the power, water and oil and gas industries; a service and repair center for advanced turbine equipment; and a training center that offers the latest technology and managerial courses for college students, field engineers and other power industry professionals throughout the region. Recently, GE signed another strategic partnership agreement with TVTC that will train annually 150 select Saudi technical graduates in the GE Energy Manufacturing Technology Center.
About GE’s Energy Presence in Saudi Arabia
Since supplying Saudi Arabia with turbomachinery for its first oil expedition in 1942, GE has been a growth technology partner to the Kingdom. GE technology produces more than 180 million liters of clean water that is delivered to the most remote corners of Saudi Arabia. GE has three offices, eight energy facilities and more than 1,000 employees in Saudi Arabia, putting GE closer to customers and providing them with faster response.
Continuing GE’s over 130-year history of successful development in human capital around the globe, GE has steadily expanded knowledge-sharing initiatives in Saudi. The company has developed several successful co-op programs with leading Saudi institutions such as the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology. GE also has a robust Saudization plan backed by comprehensive training programs for young nationals and plans to double its workforce in the Kingdom by 2013.
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About GE
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GE Energy works connecting people and ideas everywhere to create advanced technologies for powering a cleaner, more productive world. With more than 100,000 employees in over 100 countries, our diverse portfolio of product and service solutions and deep industry expertise help our customers solve their challenges locally. We serve the energy sector with technologies in such areas as natural gas, oil, coal and nuclear energy; wind, solar, biogas and water processing; energy management; and grid modernization. We also offer integrated solutions to serve energy- and water-intensive industries such as mining, metals, marine, petrochemical, food & beverage and unconventional fuels.
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