GE Power Signs Multiyear Service Agreement

GE Power has signed a multiyear service agreement with Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC) to provide maintenance, parts and repairs services for eight GE 7F.05 gas turbines at Riyadh Power Plant 12 (PP12).

The US$141 million contract will span a period of nine years.

“GE has supported the development of Saudi Arabia’s energy sector for over 80 years and has a deep understanding of our requirements,” said Ziyad Al Shiha, president & CEO of SEC. “PP12 is an important project in our efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s electricity infrastructure. This new agreement between SEC and GE will enable us to achieve higher levels of operational productivity while lowering unplanned downtime at the plant.”

GE supplied the 7F.05 gas turbines under a previous contract with SEC, with four units entering commercial operations in 2014, followed by the rest a year later. Operating in combined-cycle mode, the turbines add about 1800 MW to the national grid. Under the new service agreement, not only will GE’s team provide support on-site, but equipment at PP12 will also be monitored by the Saudi PowerGen Efficiency Center (SPEC), located in the GE Manufacturing & Technology Center in Dammam. A collaboration between GE and SEC, SPEC monitors over 500 power generation trains round-the-clock to enable seamless operations and reduce downtime.

“We are committed to offering the latest solutions and strengthening our local presence to support SEC’s assets and resource-use optimization,” said Joseph Anis, president & CEO of GE’s Power Services business in the Middle East & Africa. “The advanced monitoring and diagnostics services provided through SPEC will help to boost the plant’s operational reliability and mitigate unplanned outages.”

The GE 7F.05 gas turbine achieves 60% efficiency, providing SEC with lower fuel costs and setting a new standard for F-class efficiency, the company said. The turbines also offer wide fuel flexibility including natural gas, distillate oil, Arabian Super Light crude and a variety of other fuels. GE is also providing 12 additional units of 7F.05 gas turbines for SEC’s PP13 and PP14 facilities.

In simple cycle, the 7F.05 gas turbine offers a start capacity of 241 MW in 11 minutes, 5 ppm NOx. The 14-stage compressor incorporates 3D aerodynamic airfoils with superfinish for improved efficiency and reduced degradation, the company said. Three stages of variable stator vanes are designed to enhance hot-day and part-load efficiency.

“GE is proud to support the generation of more than half of the Kingdom’s power supply,” said Hisham Albahkali, GE’s president & CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. “From providing gas turbine technologies to long-term services, we are delivering end-to-end support for power plants across the Kingdom to help meet the evolving energy needs of citizens and industrial users.”

GE has more than 500 gas turbines installed in the Kingdom, which provide over 50% of the country’s electricity. With a presence of more than 80 years, three offices and seven facilities, Saudi Arabia accounts for the largest GE workforce in the Middle East with over 2000 employees driving the energy, healthcare and transportation sectors.