GE expands turbine services in W.Java

GE expands turbine services in W.Java

JAKARTA (JP): PT GE Nusantara Turbine Services is expanding
its turbine service center in Bandung, West Java, from 300 to
1,500 square meters to repair and service more GE gas and steam
turbines.

"The expanded center will open this month," the company said
Tuesday.

GE Nusantara was established by GE Power Systems of the United
States, as the majority shareholder, the state-owned aircraft
manufacturer PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN) and the
state-owned ship-builder PT PAL.

The company says its service center will be able to repair GE
Frame 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 gas turbine parts. And when more equipment
is installed next April, it will be able to repair Frame 5 and 6
gas turbine rotating parts.

In 1994, GE Power Systems signed an agreement with the
Indonesian Agency for Strategic Industries to establish a gas
turbine manufacturing plant for aeroderivative and heavy-duty
turbines, generators and mechanical drive systems.

GE Power Systems says it anticipates double-digit annual
growth in additional electricity capacity in Southeast Asia over
the next decade, spurred by petroleum exploration and the
region's need for more electricity.

John Lavelle, the regional director of GE Power Systems, said
the expanded service center would support other GE centers in
Southeast Asia to service gas and steam turbine equipment.

Stuart L. Dean, the president of GE Indonesia, said the
expansion project was "one more indication of GE's confidence in
Indonesia".

He said that in the last three years GE had invested over
US$200 million in Indonesia and that it planned to invest more.
(bnt)