GE expands Middle East energy projects |
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Thu, 31 May 2007 18:28
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WASHINGTON (AP) - General Electric Co. on Thursday said it is expanding its water, chemicals and power operations in the Middle East, where the company has project commitments worth billions of dollars.GE's Water & Process Technologies unit is building a roughly 24,600 square feet chemical manufacturing facility in the eastern city of Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The center -- which will have a water treatment laboratory -- is scheduled to begin operating later this year.'Our commitment to the region and our investment in the facility strengthens our position and capabilities in Saudi Arabia,' said Ralph Hadley, general manager of GE Water & Process Technologies, Middle East and Africa operations.Separately, GE's Energy unit said it is expanding its offices to coordinate its power generation projects in the Middle East, where it has more than $4 billion in commitments. The company is expanding its Riyadh, Saudi Arabia office and opening new ones in Dammam and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.The Fairfield, Conn.-based company has received $2 billion in commitments for major power plant projects in Saudi Arabia. GE expects to add 6.3 gigawatts of power to the Kingdom's electricity grid.'Saudi Arabia's electricity use has been increasing at a rate of about 7 percent a year, and the Water and Electricity Ministry estimates that the Kingdom will require up to 20 gigawatts of additional power generating capability by the year 2019,' said Ed Wollyung, a 33-year old GE veteran who will be leading the expansion.To date, GE has installed 350 units power generation facilities in Saudi Arabia representing 7.8 gigawatts of power.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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