Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited (MHI), marked a major milestone in its six-decades long partnership with Saudi Arabia, with the inauguration of its first-ever JAC gas turbine assembled in the kingdom at its Dammam facility.
The first M501JAC gas turbine will be delivered to the 475MW Amiral Cogeneration Plant in Jubail, Eastern Province, which will supply electricity and steam to the Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company (SATORP) strategic petrochemical complex.
The complex is expected to house one of the largest mixed-load steam crackers in the Gulf region - making this project a significant step in advancing the kingdom’s energy and industrial capabilities.
This landmark coincides with Mitsubishi Power’s 60th anniversary of Saudi operations, thus underscoring its deep-rooted commitment to the country’s industrial growth, energy security and sustainable future, said MHI in a statement.
This achievement also highlights the Dammam plant’s capabilities in assembling advanced gas turbines and advancing localisation, while positioning the kingdom as a regional hub for advanced power generation solutions and delivering on Saudi Vision 2030, it stated.
The successful assembly of the first JAC gas turbine is supported by Mitsubishi Power’s Saudi National Program, which equips Saudi nationals with advanced technical expertise for the energy sector.
Today, as part of Mitsubishi Power's Saudi National program, which provides local talent with rewarding career pathways at the company, over 50% of Mitsubishi Power employees are Saudi nationals, both male and female.
They benefit from advanced technical skills for the energy sector, which they gain through on-the-job training and knowledge exchange programs both in Saudi Arabia and in Japan, said the MHI statement.
At the Dammam Assembly Facility, Mitsubishi Power assembles heavy duty gas turbines, including the state-of-the-art M501JAC, one of the world’s most efficient and reliable gas turbines.
The landmark achievement was celebrated in the presence of Prince Saud bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Eastern Province at a special ceremony in Dammam.
Held under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Eastern Province, the event was also attended by Masahiro Tada, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Japanese Embassy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Takao Tsukui, President and CEO, welcomed other senior executives and assembled guests on behalf of Mitsubishi Power.
"Our gas turbines, assembled here at our Dammam Assembly Facility, will play a pivotal role in supporting the kingdom’s ambition to accelerate economic growth and achieve its decarbonisation goals, in line with Saudi Vision 2030," stated Tsukui.
"As we celebrate 60 years of partnership in the kingdom, this milestone reflects our enduring commitment to Saudi Arabia, enhancing localisation, empowering Saudi talent, and delivering our most advanced technologies to support the country's energy transition and industrial development," he added.
Mitsubishi Power pointed out that by localising production of its most advanced turbines in the kingdom, it is enabling greater self-reliance in energy infrastructure, supporting industrial growth and aligning with the Saudi Green Initiative’s target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions through the circular carbon economy.
With a rich heritage in Saudi Arabia spanning 60 years, Mitsubishi Power works with key energy stakeholders including the Ministry of Energy, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company and the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC).
The company began operations in Saudi Arabia with its first supply of boilers to Aramco in Abqaiq in 1965 and has since been active in power projects with major utilities and industrial companies in the kingdom.-TradeArabia News Service