Alstom Grid Technical Institute completes its largest training contract in Kuwait, giving KOC full autonomy on Operation and Maintenance

Kuwait, 25 May 2011

Following their investment in an Alstom Grid High Voltage Substation, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) - the worlds 4th largest oil company - signed a 800,000 contract with Alstom Grid Technical Institute for customised Competence Development Training. KOC experts are now fully autonomous in operation and maintenance on their new, 132 kV Gas-insulated Substation - B65, which ensures a continuous flow of electricity to KOC refineries.

The training took place over almost six months with sessions in Europe and Kuwait and covered safety, high voltage network substations, high voltage transformers and 132 kV gas insulated switchgear (GIS) substations as well as protection and substation control. With the programme successfully completed, KOC celebrated the achievements of its engineers with an awards ceremony on 28 April, at their corporate headquarters in Ahmadi, Kuwait. KOC particularly appreciated Alstom Technical Institutes capacity to provide in-depth and professional training methods, fully customised to meet their needs.

In the Oil sector, its now even more evident to us that our production continuity is intimately linked to the electrical power supply, said Mr. Sami AL-RUSHAID, Chairman of KOC. Today, we are really happy to see the outcome of the competence training project Alstom has provided to our engineers, and look forward to cementing this relationship for the development of both organisations.

All KOCs management, up to their Chairman, was impressed by the successful outcome of the project thanks to the high quality delivered by our teams, said Riaan Marshall, Technical Institute Director. 

Specifically KOC mentioned the professionalism, the collaborative work spirit and the expertise of our Alstom Grid teams, which has been a key success factor. This project clearly demonstrates the importance of the Technical Institute as a key differentiator and a door opener for further business opportunities.

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 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 chainfrom power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

Press Contacts

Walter Dussaucy (Alstom Grid Near and Middle East) +971 4 2929844 walter.dussaucy@alstom.com

Emmanuelle Helleux (Alstom Grid Worldwide) +33 1 49 01 70 87 emmanuelle.helleux@alstom.com

Websites www.alstom.comwww.alstom.com/gridwww.alstom.com/grid/tech-institute