GE Energy opens new Moscow centre

G E Energy has opened a sales, services and technology centre in Moscow and is currently recruiting engineers as part of its expansion plans in Russia. GE believes that through the centre it will be able to more effectively expand and integrate the activities of its power & water, energy services and oil & gas divisions with those of its customers and partners in the region. An important feature of the new Moscow site is its product demonstration and training area, where educational programmes, conferences, product training and hands-on operational experience will be offered to employees of GE and its customers. Currently, 140 people work for GE Energy in Russia.

‘Our new facility demonstrates GE’s long-term commitment to invest in sustainable energy infrastructure development in the region’ said Ricardo Cordoba, president of GE Energy for Western Europe and North Africa.

‘By ensuring our technical, operational, engineering and commercial resources are located closer to our customers, we can more rapidly respond to their needs in any part of Russia and throughout the region.’

GE’s development in Russia isn’t stopping there. As part of what it calls its ‘multi-step localisation plan’ it has just signed an agreement with local government to build a new facility about 180 km southwest of Moscow in the Kaluga Region to provide services for GE power generation equipment installed in Russia and the Central Asian states.

The new Kaluga facility will include a office buildings and an industrial shop dedicated to the repair of heavy-duty gas turbine nozzles, transition pieces, combustion liners, power nozzles and rotors and the repair and overhaul of Jenbacher gas engines, and in its first phase will handle the repair and service of GE heavy-duty gas turbine components. GE Energy anticipates that the facility, once fully operational, will employ between

50 and 100 Russian engineers and service staff. Commissioning and startup of the centre is scheduled for the first quarter of 2011.

GE will be collaborating with Russian companies to supply products, services and technologies to the area.