Alstom Continues Its Investment in Turkey with the Inauguration of a New Power Transformer Repair Facility

Regulatory News:

Alstom Grid, the global expert in electrical grid performance, has been operating in Turkey since 1966 and continues to grow its local presence. Today, Alstom (Paris:ALO) inaugurated its newest and largest power transformer repair facility in Gebze, Turkey, during a ceremony chaired by Taner Yildiz, the Turkish Minister of energy and natural resources, and Patrick Kron, Alstom Chairman and CEO.

The new service facility expands the capabilities of Alstom Grid’s existing site at Gebze, the location of a 50,000 sqm power transformer factory that has been a leading manufacturer in Turkey for over four decades. It spans an area of 4,500 sqm and is capable of providing repair, maintenance, refurbishment and redesign for all types of power transformers up to 400MVA, 400kV. This includes special purpose transformers for heavy industry, shunt reactors, High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transformers and traction transformers, and a comprehensive oil testing laboratory providing a full range of diagnostic tests and condition based maintenance.

The facility represents an investment of approximately 10 million euros and is expected to employ around 100 direct staff and foster the creation of several more local indirect jobs via its supply chain.

Today, Alstom’s Gebze factory not only contributes critical infrastructure and services to the Turkish electrical grid, it also exports nearly 85 percent of its production to customers around the world, making it one of the country’s top 50 exporters. Alstom’s customers in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, in particular, will further benefit from a new service facility with advanced test equipment and latest industrial processes.

During his speech at the inauguration ceremony, Patrick Kron commented, "The inauguration of this new facility is the latest example of Alstom’s long term commitment to the Turkish energy industry and to the country’s export efforts. We will continue to provide strong local support to our customers such as the Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEIAS) in the development of smarter and more efficient electrical grids in Turkey, either by providing highest quality equipment such as transformers, turnkey systems, or through our local service support.”

Over its 50 year history in Turkey, Alstom has participated in several major infrastructure projects. In 2010, it produced the world’s largest special transformer, a 300 MVA electric arc furnace transformer in Gebze. Alstom Grid is a major supplier to TEIAS for a range of products, turnkey systems and automation solutions for electricity transmission.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 96,500 people in more than 70 countries, and had sales of over € 23 billion* in 2009/10. (*Pro forma figures).

About Alstom in Turkey

Alstom started its activities in the 1960s, and is a key contributor to the energy and rail transport infrastructure in Turkey. Alstom supplied key equipment for 55% of Turkey’s installed power generation capacity, including the Atatürk dam which is the biggest hydro power plant in the country and approximately 50 % of the installed transmission products of TEIAS and successfully performed several key railway projects, such as Istanbul’s first Metro Line (Taksim-Levent), the delivery of 460 locomotives for the National Railways and the Istanbul tramway. Alstom is today a social and economical contributor, with approximately 1200 employees in Turkey working for commercial, engineering, service and manufacturing, able to manage turnkey transmission projects for the entire region in power generation and in power transmission. The Gebze factory exports 85% of its production and Alstom Grid has been ranked 39th among the top 500 national companies.

About Alstom Grid

The newest sector of Alstom, has over 100 years of expertise in electrical grids. Whether for utilities or electro-intensive industries or facilitating the trading of energy, Alstom Grid brings power to their customers’ projects. Alstom Grid ranks among the top 3 in electrical transmission sector with a sales turnover of approximately € 3.5 billion in 2009. It has 20,000 employees and over 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide. Its four main business areas are Products, Systems, Automation and Service. At the heart of the development of Smart Grid, Alstom Grid offers products, services and integrated energy management solutions across the full energy value chain—from power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

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