* Company moves to deepen partnership and localization initiatives in the country
* GE Energy signs power generation and steam turbine upgrade deals with Sasol
* GE Transportation's partnership with Mineworkers reaffirms the company's commitment to the country
Johannesburg, South Africa: February 03, 2009: General Electric (GE), the global infrastructure, media and financial services company, is scaling up its operations in South Africa as a localised partner of infrastructure technology, the company announced at its 'GE Day' event in Johannesburg, South Africa today.
"GE is a strong proponent of localisation, empowerment, diversity and development of our people, partners and customers," said Ferdinando 'Nani' Beccalli, President and CEO of GE International.
Amidst high-level government dignitaries and customers, GE showcased the latest technologies from various businesses including energy, oil and gas, water, transportation, security, mining, aviation and healthcare.
Beccalli said last December's landmark agreement signed by GE Transportation with one of South Africa's foremost Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) companies, Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), to establish the subsidiary GE South Africa Technologies (Pty) Limited, is a testimony of this commitment, allowing the company to participate in the country's social and economic transformation in the rail and energy business.
In addition to this, GE strongly supports skills transfer and training initiatives throughout all its local businesses. For example, GE Security, which has recently expanded in Gauteng will be opening a state-of-the-art training facility, to provide the latest product training to customers.
To boost skills transfer, GE in August last year facilitated a learning visit by South African executives to GE's learning centre in Crontoville, USA, to share best practice in management.
"We are strategically positioned to provide solutions to our customers' toughest infrastructure development challenges through the strength of our innovation, technology and partnerships," Beccalli emphasised.
GE Energy is a power generation technology provider to some of South Africa's key utilities and industries and recently signed a multi-million dollar agreement with Sasol for maintenance, monitoring and diagnostics of the two GE Frame 9 gas turbines to be installed at the new 280 megawatt power plant in Secunda, over a 15 year period. This will enable Sasol to meet critical requirements for long-term reliability and plant performance.
GE Energy has also signed a multi-million dollar agreement to provide Sasol with reliability and steam path efficiency upgrades of several non-condensing GE steam turbines at the company's Secunda Synfuels facility.
GE Energy has also pioneered several renewable power generation projects in South Africa, including the recent GE Jenbacher gas engine installations at effluent-to-biogas and landfill sites in the country. This is one of many certified GE Energy products certified under ecomagination, GE's company-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
GE Transportation, a trusted partner and supplier to the rail and mining industries in South Africa, has an installed base of some 1200 GE locomotives across the continent. Last year GE Transportation took South Africa's Orex line to the next level with the longest production train in the world, made possible through the Locotrol technology solution. GE Transportation is also providing emergency -power to Anglo Platinum - ensuring continuity and safety for the South African mining company's operations.
GE Healthcare, a significant pan-African healthcare technology provider, has also begun to implement its 'Early Health' model in the - South African market. The division has provided all the cardiology-related technology and other imaging equipment to South Africa's first black-empowered hospital Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Center (EHHC) in Durban.
GE Water and Process Technologies recently introduced its mobile water desalination technology to South Africa. The mobile water units provide an emergency response, where reliable, high quality water is required in a short period of time. These units could be deployed at municipalities, where potable water needs to be returned to the public; as well as in industry, where they are invaluable as support during shutdowns, where critical water supply must continue without compromising quality.
The mining and manufacturing industry sectors have benefited from use of these units. Recently a South American processor of Carbon Black required high purity water for a specialised product manufacturing process. These units allowed for a production expansion that went ahead without delay, without the need for capital expenditure and at a lower cost of treated water.
GE Water & Process Technologies have also supplied GE's membrane technology for use in a desalination and salt purification plan; which will produce ultra-pure salt for a chlorine, caustic soda and hydrochloric acid refinery under construction at Coega near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.
"GE has roots in Africa and South Africa over 100 years old, and is active in energy, rail transportation and healthcare, among other sectors. With pan-African operations employing some 1500 employees and revenues of US$3.5 billion in 2008, GE has a regional head office in Johannesburg and an international award-winning manufacturing GE Security facility in Cape Town.
Today's GE Day event is focused on strengthening our relationship with key stakeholders, partners and the government. We have developed a country-to-company relationship with market-driven, customer-focused innovations - to make up a total infrastructure development solutions portfolio," said Nabil Habayeb, President and CEO -- Middle East and Africa.
The CEO added that GE was also engaging in social responsibility activities and had established the South African General Electric Educational Trust ("SAGE Trust") to provide educational support in the form of grants, loans, bursaries and endowments for disadvantaged communities.
"The main objective of the trust is to improve the quality of lives for disadvantaged communities by alleviating poverty through enhancing education," he said noting that more than 15 institutions were beneficiaries of the initiative.
"As we scale up our operations we plan to raise our contribution towards this program," he said.
Notes to Editors
About GE:
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. GE is Imagination at Work. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.
Rania Rostom