FLORENCE, ITALY (October 6, 2004) --- GE Energy's oil and gas division has signed an agreement to build and develop a regional training and maintenance center in Kazakhstan that will feature technology information, training and technical assistance, static and rotating equipment maintenance for customers in Kazakhstan and the surrounding regions.
This project will be carried out in cooperation with Groupe CIFAL, and is the first GE facility of its type in Kazakhstan. Groupe CIFAL is a regional service supplier to the energy industry with activities in Kazakhstan and in the Caspian Sea region (www.groupecifal.com).
The new facility will be located in the industrial area of Atyrau, between the International Airport and downtown and will include a training center, technical assistance center and business offices and a more than 1000-square meter building dedicated to the workshop.
The new center will be operated by GE Energy's oil and gas group and will also develop and employ local specialists.
"Through the new center, we are developing a learning environment that provides information about technologies of interest to our customers in Kazakhstan as well as other surrounding regions," said Piero Salvadori, Chairman of Nuovo Pignone GE Energy's oil and gas division. "Our key objectives are to create a permanent, local business structure and expand GE's presence in the country to increase awareness about the technology offered by GE turbo machines, as well as to provide technical assistance and maintenance to local customers."
The new training and maintenance center will be fully operational by 2005 and it is expected to serve international and national oil and gas production companies, local energy utility authorities, and energy sector business.
The training center will include a gas turbine control panel simulator and other instructional materials. It will offer training packages for GE Energy equipment, customized training for operation and maintenance personnel, and leadership and management courses.
The maintenance center will be able to perform inspections and repair management on static and rotating equipment, dimensional checks and non-destructive tests, and warehouse and spare parts management to support the existing fleet as well as the installation of new machines.
GE Energy's oil and gas headquarters are based in Florence, Italy, the home of Nuovo Pignone, a long-time global leader in gas compression and turbo generation products. GE acquired Nuovo Pignone in 1994 and since then has continued to expand its oil and gas portfolio by acquiring or developing partnerships with other technology and experience leaders in the industry.
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Howard Masto
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Ken Darling
Masto Public Relations
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1-518-786-6488