MHPS Saudi Arabia, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS), has revealed plans to manufacture its most advanced gas turbines in the kingdom, as part of a phased investment strategy in the kingdom.

The announcement was made following the recent opening of its new Turbine Rotor Repair Facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, said a statement from the company.

The opening ceremony for the new facility was held under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Eastern Province, and was witnessed by over 100 guests to mark this significant milestone.

The guests included: Prince Ahmed bin Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, deputy governor of the Eastern Province; Dr Saleh H Alawaji, deputy minister of energy, industry, and mineral resources; Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi, Minister of Commerce and Investment; Dr Mohammed Y Al Qahtani, senior vice president - Upstream of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco); Eng Khalid Bin Abdulrahman Al Tuaimi, executive vice president - generation of the Saudi Electricity Company, and Norihiro Okuda, ambassador of Japan.

MHPS also intends to use the new facility as a base for servicing of compressors and their turbines used in petroleum and chemical plants, etc.

Specifically, starting in 2018 MHPS, in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation (MCO), also a Group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), will handle maintenance and inspection of compressors and turbines delivered to Saudi Arabia by MCO.

This latest investment is a further step in the long term plans of MHPS for Saudi Arabia which has already achieved over 900 per cent growth in its staffing since first coming to the country five years ago.

Kenji Ando, MHPS president and chief executive officer, said: “Saudi Arabia is a key element in our overall strategic vision and is vital to our ability to achieve our goals and objectives.”

“MHPS has strategically committed its long-term support and investment in the kingdom by enhancing MHPS Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“One of our goals has been to combine the best Saudi talent with our know-how and technological leadership which ensures we on the path of continuing and sustained success. I am delighted that our workforce in the kingdom consists of 50 per cent of Saudi nationals which also aligns with Vision 2030 which we are pleased to support. The company is also is meeting its IKTVA goals and commitments,” he added.

As an advocate of Vision 2030, MHPS is currently exploring measures to support and nurture Saudi youth. MHPS views this as a crucial step and of value to Saudi Arabia's future ambitions by contributing to ensuring the future generation of engineers are provided the best opportunities in the kingdom.

MHPS is in discussions to team up with the finest engineering universities in the kingdom to work together in creating the finest world class talent.

One of the central values of MHPS is the integration of technologies, human resources, and society, which create a powerful synergy for maintaining its leadership in the global market.

Further, in the near future, our board will be presented with several options for new investment opportunities in the kingdom, among them is the establishment of a new advanced manufacturing and technology centre for the production of the most efficient and reliable GT in the world, the M501JAC.

MHPS's new JAC gas turbine has unprecedented statistics, 99.5 per cent reliability while approaching 65 per cent efficiency. In a combined cycle one-on-one configuration, it produces 600 megawatts of power in 60Hz while reducing carbon emissions by nearly 70 per cent. When it becomes operational in the kingdom, it will have the lowest cost of electricity, said a statement.

Today, MHPS is the number one global leader in advanced class gas turbine technology with over 42,000 MWs on order or in operation. No competitor can match this record.

As a global-leading company in thermal-power and environmental technologies, MHPS handle technology development to the provision of products, systems and solutions that will contribute to enriched lifestyles for people around the world and the creation of a safe and secure global environment, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service