Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad Inaugurates Geat: Africa’s First-of-its-kind Manufacturing, Assembly, Digital, Service & Repair Center For The Power Sector

H.E. Abdelaziz Djerad, Prime Minister of Algeria, accompanied by other senior officials, inaugurated General Electric Algeria Turbines (GEAT), a joint venture between Sonelgaz and GE located in the Ain Yagout area of the city of Batna in Algeria. Established to manufacture skids and turbine auxiliaries, assemble gas and steam turbines and control systems, create digital solutions, and service and repair power generation equipment, GEAT is the only facility of its kind in the African continent. The delegation also celebrated the completion of the first locally assembled gas turbine, a 9F.04 unit that is planned to be installed at the Oumach III power plant at Biskra in mid-2021. 

H.E. Abdelmadjid Attar, Minister of Energy, said, “GEAT is the only facility in Africa equipped to assemble gas and steam turbines. The inauguration of the facility and the completion of the first gas turbine at GEAT is a moment of great pride for all Algerians and shows Sonelgaz and GE’s commitment to power Algeria forward. GEAT is contributing towards further strengthening Algeria’s energy ecosystem and supporting our national socio-economic development efforts.”

GEAT is part of a US$ 168 million (approx. DZD 22 billion) investment. The facility has already started manufacturing components such as gas turbine piping and skids, assembling turbines and control systems, and servicing power generation equipment. It is also expected to start creating digital solutions for the power sector by 2021 and to begin providing repair services for GE’s 9FA gas turbines for the first time in Africa in 2024, enabling Algeria’s fleet of over 30 9FA units to be repaired domestically, thus saving considerable foreign exchange reserves. GEAT has already created 140 jobs for Algerian nationals and is expected to create up to another 200 jobs by 2024. The staff at GEAT, comprising engineers, operators, logistics experts, and others, has already received over 30,000 hours of training, both in local institutes and at GE’s facilities in France, Hungary and India.

“GEAT is the outcome of a strong, long-term partnership between Sonelgaz and GE. Together, we have achieved a great milestone that is enabling technology and skills transfer, building local capabilities, and helping us to secure the country’s energy future,” stated Mr. Chaher Boulakhras, President & CEO at Sonelgaz. “I am particularly pleased to see the intense focus on training our people; these efforts will bring value to the local community and our country for decades to come.” 

“GE has been honored to support the development of Algeria’s power sector for over 40 years. The inauguration of GEAT reflects our long-term commitment to not just strengthen the country’s energy ecosystem but more importantly, to power growth and prosperity for the Algerian people,” said Joseph Anis, President and CEO of GE Gas Power, Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. “I am proud of and thankful to the teams at the Ministry of Energy, Sonelgaz, and GE who have contributed to this incredible achievement.”