Alstom has launched a new power generation services workshop in Saudi Arabias western region that will include a training facility to help bolster the skills of the local workforce
The new workshop will be situated in Rabigh in Saudi Arabia's Makkah Province and will become one of the largest workshops of its kind in the kingdom's western region.?The facility will be able handle the reconditioning of gas turbine components, as well as the inspection and repair of a wide range of other power plant equipment.
The multi-stage project will initially lead to the construction of a 5,000sqm services workshop, with a later expansion possible due to an extra 26,000 sqm of land having been acquired. The project will also include a training centre for both Alstom personnel and local customers.
"This exciting venture allows us to further build on excellent relationships with our key local customer SEC and other Saudi Arabian partners,"?said?Alstom Thermal Power president Philippe Cochet.
"Together with our partners we support the strong, sustainable drive to localise and modernise the key services necessary for a steadily expanding regional power sector."
The investment forms part of Alstom's strategy to increase its local presence in the Middle East. The service workshop will enable Alstom to deliver its services and products to partners such as Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and other key customers in the expanding regional power market.
The training centre will help develop the skills of a local Saudi workforce in line with the very latest, technical developments associated with Alstom to meet the challenges of high efficiency, environmentally-sensitive turbine technology.
SEC president and chief executive officer Ali Saleh Al-Barrak?commented,?"This new training facility at Rabigh shows that like SEC Alstom are committed to a skilled, localised labour force."
A MoU was also signed between Alstom and SEC to establish a pilot Expert Development Training Programme. This programme will embed SEC experts within Alstom Businesses for on-the-job training placements.
