Siemens Energy said it has won a major contract to provide long-term maintenance services at Algeria’s first solar-combined cycle hybrid power plant.

The contract includes preventative and corrective maintenance for two SGT-800 gas turbines, which Siemens installed in April 2011.

The contract was awarded by Spanish solar-power plant developer Abengoa for its 150 megawatt (MW) solar hybrid plant operating at the Hassi R’Mel natural gas field in northern Algeria.

“As these unique and advanced hybrid plant technologies continue to emerge, maintaining their efficiency with cost-effective service solutions is vital,” said Karim Amin, head of Siemens Energy Service, Middle East region.

“Algeria has made a strong commitment to developing its abundant renewable energy sources, along with its rich natural gas resources, and we look forward to providing reliable service to Abengoa for this very important project,” he stated.

The service contract for the gas turbines will help to ensure long-term reliability and predictable maintenance costs for Abengoa at Hassi R’Mel, one of the world’s most innovative power stations, he added.

The Siemens Energy sector is the world’s leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for power generation in thermal power plants and using renewables, power transmission in grids and for the extraction.-TradeArabia News Service