POWERING SAUDI ARABIA FORWARD

A DECADE OF PROGRESS

I remember it like it was yesterday – on a sunny afternoon in 2008, we broke ground on the GE Manufacturing & Technology Center (GEMTEC) campus in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Our vision was to turn that vast expanse of empty space into a leading, world-class center of excellence to serve the power sector. The facility was inaugurated a few years later.

Fast forward through a decade, and here’s where we stand now:

• Today, the GE Manufacturing & Technology Center (GEMTEC) campus is home to a Service and Repairs Center for gas turbines – one of GE’s largest globally, led by a Saudi national; a Monitoring & Diagnostics Center for the remote monitoring of power generation assets; the GE MENA Decarbonization Center of Excellence (COE); as well as GE Saudi Advanced Turbines (GESAT), a joint venture between Dussur and GE that is equipped to manufacture heavy duty gas turbines and components, and furthers industrial localization efforts in the Kingdom.
• The campus has served more than 70 customers from over 40 countries, supporting high value exports from the Kingdom to the world.
• More than 60% of our workforce at the facility consists of Saudi nationals, and we have nurtured collaborations with over 150 Saudi-based suppliers.

GEMTEC is a true example of the value GE can bring to the communities we serve. The progress we have made here was made possible through the strong support of the Saudi Ministry of Energy, Dussur, our many customers, partners, and stakeholders in the Kingdom, and last but not least, the efforts of GE’s passionate, hardworking teams in the country and around the world – thank you, all!

However, this is just the beginning of our story in Saudi Arabia.

OUR NEXT CHAPTER

On 16th May, 2022, we hosted the Powering Saudi Arabia Forward forum at the GEMTEC campus. The event was held under the kind patronage of HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia – a far-sighted leader who is at the forefront of changing the future of energy in the Kingdom and beyond.

We were honored and delighted to announce several new initiatives that will help define our next chapter in the country:

• Inauguration of the GE MENA Decarbonization Center of Excellence (COE): In a sense, the Decarbonization COE really represents an evolution of the work we have been doing at the GEMTEC campus for several years now, at what was previously the Hot & Harsh Research & Development (H&H R&D) Center. At the H&H R&D Center, we developed solutions specifically meant to address the challenges faced by power plant owners and operators in sandy, desert environments with high temperatures. Now, looking ahead, as the region and the world turn their focus towards addressing the climate challenge, we’re delighted to launch the next chapter of our work here, with a focus on complementary solutions that support the acceleration to a cleaner energy future, while continuing our work on hot and harsh R&D.
• MOU with Aramco: Aramco and GE announced an MOU to develop a decarbonization roadmap that identifies possible solutions to reduce carbon emissions from the operations of Aramco’s fleet of power generation assets. Under the MOU, the two organizations will collaborate in the field of advanced carbon capture solutions, including both existing and optimized solvent technology, as well as future technologies. In addition, both parties will explore the utilization of hydrogen as a primary fuel for the installed gas turbine fleet and conduct joint research on the use of ammonia as a power generation fuel. Furthermore, they will explore opportunities for new joint R&D programs at the GE MENA Decarbonization COE in Dammam and other GE R&D facilities around the world.
• MOU with Saudi Electricity Company (SEC): SEC and GE announced an MOU to develop a decarbonization roadmap to explore pathways to the reduction of carbon emissions from the operations of SEC’s fleet of gas turbines. Under the MOU, the two organizations will explore hydrogen-fueled power production, carbon capture solutions, and R&D initiatives to potentially reduce carbon emissions from power generation.
• R&D collaboration with SEC: Gas turbines operating in desert environments can be severely impacted when they ingest air contaminated with sand and dust particles. SEC and GE signed a research agreement related to sand ingress early detection and monitoring systems to potentially ensure higher reliability and availability of gas turbines and prevent catastrophic failures in dusty, desert environments.
• MOU with Dussur to expand capabilities at GE Saudi Advanced Turbines (GESAT): Dussur and GE intend to develop a roadmap to enhance the capabilities of GESAT to provide heavy duty gas turbine products and services for future gas power projects in Saudi Arabia. The MOU intends to facilitate further transfer of knowledge and capabilities within GESAT, increase the localization of products and services, and add value through meaningful job creation within the Kingdom.
• Order from Samsung C&T for gas turbines: Samsung C&T awarded GE and GESAT an order for three 7F.05 gas turbines for the Cogeneration Plant and Desalination Plant at Tanajib Project. Samsung C&T is the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the project. The facility is expected to generate up to 940 megawatts (MW) of power, 1,084 tons per hour of steam, and 23,856 cubic meters of desalinated water per day once complete, contributing significantly to further strengthening the Kingdom’s energy and water security.

Addressing the energy trilemma to enhance access to more reliable, affordable, and sustainable power will require the combined efforts, time, knowledge, and resources of many stakeholders. At GE, we have been honored to support the development of Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure for almost 90 years and the initiatives we announced at the forum reflect our intention to keep doing so in the decades to follow.?

Furthermore, during the event, award ceremonies were held to recognize local talent with outstanding accomplishments who work at the GEMTEC campus, as well as key Saudi Arabia-based suppliers and partners who work with GE and excel in the areas of prioritizing safety, quality, on-time delivery, maintaining competitiveness in an inflationary environment, and driving a culture of continuous improvement.

To learn more, read the full press release on the forum and watch this video.

LET’S STEP INTO THE FUTURE - TOGETHER

As I look ahead, there is much to be optimistic about in Saudi Arabia. With a young, talented population that’s excited about their future, and visionary leadership that is driving an agenda of change and progress, the Kingdom is reaching new heights. At GE, we remain committed to supporting Saudi Arabia on this journey of growth.?

I’ve said this often in the past and will say it again now, the best is yet to come. Together, we can keep contributing to powering Saudi Arabia forward.