Wärtsilä Corporation has signed an agreement with Riyadh Cement Company (RCC) to deliver a second power plant for their new cement plant expansion in Saudi Arabia. The agreement was signed in May 2008. This turnkey delivery is scheduled for completion by mid-2010 and follows an earlier Wärtsilä power plant delivered to the same customer, which became operational in early 2007.
This extension order comprises five Wärtsilä 20V32 generating sets that will run on heavy fuel oil. They will produce 38 MW of electricity to be used for powering RCC’s second production unit.
The site is located 835 metres above sea level and has an ambient air temperature of 50 degrees C. The 20-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines were chosen because of their reliability in operating under such extreme site conditions.
“Wärtsilä and RCC have acted as one team ever since the contract for the first phase was awarded, as a result of which we received trouble free service and uninterrupted electric supply for our first line. Based on the earlier success, we have also awarded the second phase of the power station to Wärtsilä,“ says Mr Naseer Uddin Siddiqui, Assistant General Manager Projects, RCC.
“Having successfully met the customers’ power demands with the previous plant delivery, which we are operating and maintaining under an O&M contract, we are especially pleased to have been awarded this extension project contract. It endorses not only the reputation of the Wärtsilä equipment, but also the support service capability that we are able to provide from our regional office in Jeddah,” says Nomi Ahmad, Regional Director, Middle East, Wärtsilä Power Plants.
The rapid growth of construction projects in Saudi Arabia, together with the country’s infrastructure development, has created a huge demand for cement. RCC was one of the first companies serving that market, with the capacity to produce 5000 tons per day.
Wärtsilä has been powering industry in Saudi Arabia for 35 years with more than 1200 MW of power plants installed, under construction or on order. Close to 400 MW is utilized or earmarked for the expanding cement industry in the country.
For further information, please contact:
Khalid Abuzahra
General Manager, Power Plants
Wärtsilä in Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 2 651 19001 ext. 113
Fax: +966 2 650 3882
e-mail: khalid.abuzahra@wartsila.com
Tuula Franck
Press Manager
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +358 400267555
Email: tuula.franck@wartsila.com
Maria Nystrand
Public Relations Manager, Power Plants
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 709 1456
Direct fax: +358 10 709 1425
e-mail: maria.nystrand@wartsila.com
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 17,000 professionals manning 160 Wärtsilä locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on The Nordic Exchange in Helsinki, Finland.
