GE Energy has signed contracts totaling more than $500 million (SR1.87 billion) to supply gas turbines and generators for power plant projects owned by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC).

In the first agreement, GE Energy received a contract to supply gas turbine-generators for the 960 MW expansion of the Rabigh Power Plant in Rabigh City, on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. The project is part of SEC’s initiative to provide additional power to support the region’s economic and population growth.
In addition to the Frame 7EA gas turbines at the Rabigh site, GE’s scope of supply includes Type 7A6 generators, technical advisory services during installation and spare parts. The EPC contractor for the project is the National Contracting Company Limited of Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Further expanding its presence in the Middle East’s rapidly growing power industry, GE Energy has been contacted to supply gas turbines that will be used by four SEC power plants.
Frame 7EA gas turbines to Al-Toukhi for a 260 MW power plant in Jizan City, southern Saudi Arabia.
7EA gas turbines to Al-Toukhi for a 120 MW power plant in Qunfutha City, western Saudi Arabia.
7EA gas turbines to the National Contracting Company Limited of Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, for a 111 MW facility in Aljouf City, northern Saudi Arabia.
7EA units, also to National Contracting, for a 183 MW power project in Tabouk City, northwestern Saudi Arabia.
“These projects are part of SEC’s on-going efforts to meet the region’s soaring power demand,” said Joseph Anis, GE Energy’s executive for the Middle East. “Our capability to provide gas turbine technology with a short delivery cycle and the proven reliability of our gas turbine technology were key factors in winning these contracts.”
The GE gas turbines and generators will be manufactured at GE Energy’s facilities in Greenville, SC and Schenectady, NY respectively.
More than 750 of GE’s Frame 7EA gas turbines are in service worldwide, and have accumulated millions of hours of service in a wide variety of applications.
SEC president and CEO Ali Saleh Al-Barak said demand for power was growing at an estimated 8 per cent per annum in Saudi Arabia.
“As the leading electricity supplier in the kingdom, SEC consistently adapts to the evolving conditions to meet increasing demand. Our relationship with GE, which spans over 40 years, has played an integral role in enabling us to successfully meet the need for additional power supply through efficient solutions. These deals will further cement our relationship with the company,” he said.
Saudi Arabia is one of GE’s key growth regions. GE maintains a workforce of more than 600 employees in the kingdom with offices in Jeddah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, as well as joint ventures in the fields of energy, healthcare and appliances. GE’s current business portfolio in Saudi Arabia includes power and water, transportation and health care, in addition to new opportunities in financial services and advanced materials.
GE Energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.