Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has awarded the Shaw Group a new contract to implement a fleetwide services programme for all of the state utility?s oil and gas-fired power plants in Saudi Arabia
Under the contract, the US-based company will implement a comprehensive asset management and performance diagnostic programme that will address most aspects of SEC?s 37 operating power plants with a focus on safety, maintenance and corporate environmental programmes.
?The programme is designed to advance Saudi Electricity Company?s power plant operations and maintenance to international best practices,? said Shaw chairman and chief executive officer JM Bernhard.
The deal follows the multi-phase study Shaw conducted in 2010 that looked at and recommended operational improvements to SEC?s fleet of power plants. The study and the new contract is part of SEC plans to provide greater network reliability in the kingdom.
Shaw said in a statement that it expected to continue expanding its operations in Saudi Arabia. The firm has also been working on pursuing opportunities to provide a full complement of services to design, engineer, construct and operate new nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia, alongside Toshiba and Exelon in a separate, previously-announced teaming agreement.
According to Shaw, Saudi Arabia plans to invest US$112 billion over the next 20 years in building 16 nuclear power units to offset rising domestic energy demand.
