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O&M CONTRACT FOR 10 PLANTS

Deal includes operations and maintenance (O&M) services
for 10 power plants that generate 11 GW throughout Algiers

GE, Algeria boost power sector, jobs in landmark deal

ALGIERS, Algeria, April 25, 2017

GE Power, a unit of General Electric, has signed its largest ever services deal with Algerian utility Sonelgaz that will lead to digital industrial transformation of Sonelgaz’s plants and one that will create hundreds of jobs.

The landmark deal includes long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) services for 10 Sonelgaz plants throughout the country that generate 11 GW of power,  technology upgrades that will enhance energy efficiency to deliver more than 420 MW of additional power, and the introduction of GE’s digital solutions.

Together, these capabilities will strengthen the operational efficiency and productivity of the plants. They will also help save up to $2 billion in gas that can be made available for sale in international markets.

“The Algerian government and Sonelgaz have a clear vision for the future of the country’s power sector,” Steve Bolze, president and CEO of GE Power said.

“The emphasis on building industrial capacity and the focus on the digital transformation of power plant assets are long-term investments in the future of the country. GE is honoured to strengthen our collaboration with Sonelgaz and help create a vibrant local ecosystem for the power sector that will help meet the needs of people and various industries across Algeria.”

The agreement was signed by president and CEO of Sonelgaz SPE, Sabri Lezhari; and president and CEO of GE Northwest Africa, Touffik Fredj, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Algeria, Abdelmalek Sellal and other dignitaries.

The signing ceremony took place at the GE Algeria Turbines (GEAT) plant in Ain Yagout, a joint venture created in 2014 by GE and Sonelgaz, which will manufacture gas turbines and steam turbines for Sonelgaz’s power generation needs.

Speaking at the occasion, Minister of Energy, Noureddine Boutarfa said, “The government’s top priority is to strengthen power generation in the country through a highly efficient, sustainable, and productive infrastructure.

“The new GEAT facility, which manufactures high-end equipment for the power sector, and the development of the Maintenance Des Equipements Industriels (MEI) shop to manufacture spare parts are a strong value-add to the economy as they will boost our exports, enhance the efficiency of our power plants and create new jobs for Algerian youth.

“Further, the digital transformation of the power plants will enable us to optimize the use of our natural resources, and in turn, create added value for the economy. GE’s expertise in digital industrial technologies will contribute to enhancing the efficiency of the power sector, as well as the skills of Algerian professionals through knowledge sharing and hands-on training.”

The agreement, which also highlights GE’s Fleet360 total plant solutions capabilities, includes the second largest Industrial Internet software deal to date for GE Power. Sonelgaz has selected GE’s Asset Performance Management and Operations Optimization software applications to monitor and analyze data drawn from thousands of sensors throughout its power plants.

The software leverages advanced data analytics to predict and eliminate unplanned downtime, and improve power plant productivity. GE’s software is built on Predix, a data platform purpose-designed for the scale and complexity of industrial data.

 “Algeria is focused on building a diversified economy and strengthening the operational efficiency of its power sector and natural gas generation and distribution assets,” said Mustapha Guitouni, president and CEO of Sonelgaz.

“The opening of GEAT and the digital industrial transformation of our plants are significant steps forward in achieving our economic vision of industrial diversification, boosting productivity, and maximizing asset utilization. GE’s advanced suite of digital technologies will help transform our power plants, build local talent, and strengthen the culture of localization.”

Furthermore, GE will work with Algerian Engineering Services Company’s (Algesco) engineers to repair its 9FA gas turbine technology locally and help create a local centre of excellence for turbine repairs. First established in 1993, Algesco is a joint venture of GE with Sonatrach and Sonelgaz. GE will also train Sonelgaz field engineers and operators on industry best practices to strengthen their expertise and competitiveness, which will potentially enable Sonelgaz to collaborate with GE on future O&M projects in Africa.

The new agreement will also drive the development of a local supply chain with MEI, an affiliate of Sonelgaz, to manufacture spare parts for GE’s turbines in Algeria. GE will qualify MEI to manufacture spare parts as early as 2017, and it will become a part of its international supply chain. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Algeria | GE Power |

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