RIYADH — Twenty five Saudi engineers and technicians at Al-Qurayyah Combined Cycle Power Plant have managed to realize an unprecedented achievement Kingdom wide during only 11 working days, when they performed maintenance works at the plant in accordance with the technical regulations approved by the manufacturer and in compliance with all international health and security standards and occupational safety.

Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) said the staff at the plant including engineers and technicians have succeeded in replacing air compressor gas turbines after conducting a number of detailed studies with the manufacturer to discuss the possibility of avoiding problems during normal operation of the plant, which may cause damage to the blades of air compressor due to rebounding or problems with the blades. The team has developed a work plan to perform the required maintenance without seeking help from the manufacturer.

“As a result of such work, our staff at the plant have gained knowledge and ability to replace any of the air compressor blades for this type of turbines as they are so ready to transfer their acquired experience to the company plants and others,: SEC said. It added that the acquisition of such distinctive capabilities is the outcome of the high level of training and qualification of engineers and technicians that enable them to perform such difficult works, in accordance with the company’s strategic transformation initiatives that are in line with the Kingdom Vision 2030 which aims at strengthening diversification of the national economy, relying on youth at all working sites and achieving a financial surplus of SR11 million.

The Al-Qurayyah Combined Plant is reckoned as one of the most efficient generation plants in the world, which is run by Saudi engineers and technicians who constitute up to 84% of the total staff. During the coming three years the working team will be restructured to include only Saudi competencies who have managed to make the plant achieve record numbers both in terms of operational efficiency or provision of fuel equivalent and using the latest technologies in the field of combined-cycle power generation plants. — SG