GE strengthens local manufacturing with delivery of ‘Made in Saudi’ turbines

Over the past two years, GEMTEC has also evolved as a strong supporter of the Saudi SME sector.

GE has strengthened its localized manufacturing in Saudi Arabia with the delivery of six gas compression trains made at the GE Manufacturing & Technology Center (GEMTEC) in Dammam this year.
Six more gas compression trains, each comprising an aeroderivative gas turbine driving a centrifugal compressor, are being manufactured this year.
GE is also manufacturing GE’s 7F.05 heavy duty gas turbines at GEMTEC for Saudi Electricity Company (SEC). This is part of the contract from SEC for the EPC contract for gas turbine services for its Waad Al-Shamal combined cycle power plant project.
GE’s 7F.05 heavy duty gas turbines bring industry-leading flexibility to the Waad Al-Shamal plant with a 10-minute start time to an 80 percent load. They can accommodate a wide range of fuels lending greater flexibility to operations while providing customers with lower fuel costs compared to previous technology.
Zaher Ibrahim, CEO, GE Oil & Gas Saudi Arabia, added: “The local manufacturing of the gas compression and turbine technologies bring us closer to meeting the needs of our customers, and contributes to enhanced levels of service support and higher levels of operational efficiency. The localized manufacturing will also help build a local talent pool of Saudi professionals and develop more local suppliers and SMEs.”
All 12 of the gas compression trains, including the highly efficient aeroderivative turbines, are manufactured at GEMTEC, which now has over 500 employees, 70 percent of them Saudi technical professionals.
The gas compression trains also demonstrate the strength of GE Store, which allows every business in GE to share and access the applicable technology, R&D, and commercial and managerial expertise to achieve scale, lower costs, higher efficiency, and faster growth. The aeroderivative turbines have been developed using GE Aviation’s aircraft technology, highlighting the cross-business collaboration under GE Store.
Over the past two years, GEMTEC has also evolved as a strong supporter of the Saudi SME sector.