Siemens Energy said it has won a $1 billion order from a Saudi consortium for supply of components for a combined cycle power plant at its Ras Az Zawr facility, about 75 km northwest of Jubail.

Ras Az Zawr will be the fifth large-capacity power plant built by Siemens in Saudi Arabia after the Shuaibah IWPP, Jeddah III, Ghazlan and Al Khobar projects, said a company statement.

As per the order, Siemens will be supplying 12 gas turbines, 10 heat recovery steam generators, five steam turbines, and the associated auxiliary and ancillary systems to the consortium comprising Saudi's Al Arrab Contracting Company and Chinese SepcoIII Electric Power Construction Corporation.

This is one of the largest orders posted by Siemens Energy in the Middle East, said the statement, adding that the start of commercial operations scheduled for early 2014.

'Ras Az Zawr is one of the most important mega projects in Saudi. It is another great example of the outstanding strength in partnership between Siemens, ACC and Sepco,' remarked Michael Suess, CEO of Fossil Power Generation unit of Siemens Energy.

According to him, the company will also supply four gas turbines to Saudi Arabia for the Hail Extension II and Al Qurayat Expansion II projects.

The 2400MW plant will generate electricity to an aluminum smelting plant, and approximately 225 MiGD (million imperial gallons per day) of drinking water for the capital city Riyadh with its five million inhabitants.

This is equivalent to approximately one billion liters of drinking water or around 200 liters per inhabitant.

According to Suess, Siemens is highly committed to support Saudi Arabia in meeting the energy generation demand now and in future.

'With this step, Siemens Energy establishes its dominant role for advanced gas turbines worldwide as well as in Saudi,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service