Syed Abdallah Rizvi

Saudi Gazette

DAMMAM — Achieving a series of firsts in technology, customer services and the development of local talent, the Dammam-based GE Energy Manufacturing Technology Center (GEMTEC) has successfully completed its first year of operations.

With SR1 billion ($250 million) investment — underlining the GE’s long-term commitment to the Kingdom — the Center is the company’s largest energy facility of its kind today.

A joint venture with Ali A. Tamimi Co, the Center comprises three main components: manufacturing facility of high technology equipment for power, water, oil & gas industries; a service and repair center for advanced turbine equipment; and a training center that offers the latest technology and managerial courses for college students, field engineers, and other power industry professionals throughout the region.

Tucked away on the outskirts of the 2nd Industrial area, the Center, spread over a sprawling 10,000 square meters of land —  equipped with the state-of-the-art technology and a matching attitude of excellence — has achieved key milestones in the delivery of service technology to Saudi and global customers, enabling enhanced operational efficiencies along the entire energy value chain, while continuing to drive the development of Saudi human resources. These achievements are in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2020 goals of promoting localization and empowering national talent towards a knowledge-based economy.  

“This Center has already carved a niche in the very demanding and discerning energy sector by serving the top fifty customers in Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Africa and even Europe. Our clients have great expectations from us not only in giving them the best services but in the shortest possible time so that their downtime is minimized,” said the GM.

GEMTEC has become a source of not only job creation, but also developing quality human resources. “We have been at the forefront of Saudization employing well over 60 percent  Saudis from our total strength of around 400 people. We are proud to say that they are in key and strategic areas and we have great confidence in their abilities and dedication,” he added.

The Center is training another 100 under the Saudi GE Joint Technical Program (JTP). Program participants are being trained in key areas of maintenance and repair of gas turbines, electrical motors and generators that are critical to the efficient generation of electricity in the Kingdom.

The company has a policy of scouting for potential talent and has been in touch with almost all the universities and technical centers, including the KFUPM in Dhahran, Prince Mohammad University and KAUST. GEMTEC’s internship program exposes the internee to intense training programs and prepare them to be competent and capable of competing with the best from anywhere.

Joseph Anis, President and CEO for GE Energy in the Middle East, said: “Not only is the Center a fulfillment of our promise of better service through localized technology to our customers, it is testament to our long-term commitment to the Kingdom. Through the Center, GE is proud to be serving the technology and service needs of its long-term customers including Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Aramco, Marafiq and Sabic.  We are also proud of the Center’s focus on technical talent development to support the Kingdom’s growing energy infrastructure and further establish the Kingdom as a technology hub for the global energy industry.”

In its first year, the Center has serviced 450 gas turbines that power the Kingdom, with GE today supporting the generation of half of the Kingdom’s electricity through over 500 turbines installed at various sites. The Center also extended service to more than 50 key customers based in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, underling its competencies to help local and global customers achieve operational efficiencies with advanced and localized technology and services.

They are trained in their global training centers using GE’s quality methodology in key areas of maintenance and repair of gas turbines, electrical motors and generators that are very critical to the efficient generation of electricity in the Kingdom.

When asked about the time taken between receiving the component and returning it back, the GM said that depending on the component and the customer requirement, the job is done in as little as 4-6 weeks with a maximum of 12 weeks. “Quality of repair process is never compromised at the Center and we have repaired generators and gas turbines in all frame sizes and all components,” the general manager noted.

“As we step into the second year, we look back with immense satisfaction as we have achieved the goals we set for ourselves. We deliver quality product to the customer on time. Now we look forward to launching the second phase soon,” the GM added.