German-based diesel engine provider MAN Turbo has won a contract with the United Cement Industrial Co (UCIC) to operate and service its new power plant in Saudi Arabia.

The contract has a five-year term and includes the option of an extension for another five years.
"This is a significant project for us" said Wayne Jones, Senior Vice President of MAN Diesel & Turbo and head of MAN's specialized service organisation PrimeServ Diesel.

"This is our first comprehensive O&M contract in the expanding power plant market of Saudi Arabia and we are grateful for the high level of trust our customer UCIC shows towards us." |

MAN Diesel & Turbo is also responsible for building the 54MW power plant near Jeddah, where five MAN 20V32/44 CR diesel engines provide electric energy for the new UCIC cement plant.

"The cement industry in Saudi Arabia is a growing market" said Stefan Eefting, Vice President at MAN Diesel & Turbo and head of MAN PrimeServ in Augsburg. "The government has initiated extensive investments in the infrastructure of the country……..it is rather an important market for the MAN Diesel & Turbo power plant division as well as MAN PrimeServ.”

When the company received an order from the UCIC to build a power plant in Jeddah in November 2013 for its cement works, the power plant was originally going to be handed over to another company.

The power plant, 160 km to the south of Jeddah, is still under construction which started in the autumn of 2013.

Its new five-year servicing contract with UCIC also has the option of extension for another five years.
The contractor, United Cement Industrial Company, is based in Jeddah.