Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water has awarded a long-term maintenance contract to GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business. The deal will see the company provide maintenance for 54 substations of different voltage levels across Kuwait – including 132 and 300kV units.
This is the largest contract of its kind and underlines the in-country strength of GE’s Grid Services to meet the requirements of the ministry in maintaining the operational efficiency of its electricity infrastructure, said a statement.
For the next five years, GE’s Grid Solutions will ensure planned maintenance of these substations in addition to emergency intervention for smooth operation, the company explained. It added that winning the contract builds on its proven track-record of successfully delivering a similar three-year contract, signed in 2016 with the ministry for the inspection for state-of-the-art testing, repair, total maintenance and the supply of spares for 54 GIS.
“The service agreement, the largest of its kind for us in Kuwait, is a testament to our competencies in meeting the requirements of the ministry. With a strong track-record of delivering long-term maintenance contracts in the country, we will focus on ensuring the timely maintenance of the substations, providing emergency services, and supplying spare parts for preventive and corrective maintenance,” said Mohammed Mohaisen, president and CEO of GE’s Grid Solutions, MENA, Turkey and SSA region.
He added, “We are committed to supporting the Ministry in delivering its goal of providing reliable power supply across the nation.”
He also pointed out that GE is a long-term partner in driving the growth of Kuwait’s power generation sector. He explained, “Our investments in Kuwait include the GE Kuwait Technology Center, that serves three core areas for energy sector customers across the MEA region – training, tooling and engineering. GE Power operates a Monitoring & Diagnostics Center at the GE Kuwait Technology Center, a facility that provides advanced training, timely customer service and maintenance support.”
Mohaisen explained that GE has delivered several key services contracts in the country, including the first asset performance management solution for dissolved gas analysis (DGA), monitoring the health condition of a transformer fleet for the Ministry, as well as deploying digital services to modernise the country’s grid infrastructure.
GE technologies deliver over a third of Kuwait’s power today and the company creates employment for more than 250 people in the country, concluded Mohaisen.