Mitsubishi Power Celebrates First JAC Turbine Assembly at Dammam Facility

Mitsubishi Power recently inaugurated the first-ever JAC gas turbine assembled in Saudi Arabia’s Dammam Assembly Facility, representing a significant milestone in the company’s 60-year partnership with the Kingdom. The Dammam Assembly Facility assembles heavy-duty gas turbines, such as the M501 JAC, positioning the Kingdom as a regional hub for advanced power generation solutions and accelerating Saudi Vision 2030.

“We are honored by the presence of Prince Saud bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz at this ceremony to inaugurate our first JAC gas turbine assembled in Saudi Arabia,” said Takao Tsukui, President and CEO, Mitsubishi Power. “Our gas turbines, assembled here at our Dammam Assembly Facility, will play a role in supporting the Kingdom's ambition to accelerate economic growth and achieve its decarbonization goals. As we celebrate 60 years of partnership in the Kingdom, this milestone reflects our commitment to Saudi Arabia, enhancing localization, empowering Saudi talent, and delivering our technologies to support the Kingdom's energy transition and industrial development.”

Inauguration ceremony at Dammam Assembly Facility | Image Credit: MHI

This M501 JAC gas turbine will be delivered to the 475 MW Amiral Cogeneration Plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, supplying electricity and steam to the Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Co.’s (SATORP) petrochemical complex. SATORP’s complex is expected to feature one of the largest mixed-load steam crackers in the Gulf Region, significantly advancing the Kingdom’s energy and industrial capabilities. The Amiral Cogeneration Plant is co-developed by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. and JERA.

Mitsubishi Power’s Saudi National Program supported the successful turbine assembly in Dammam—the program equips Saudi nationals with high-quality technical expertise for the energy sector. Under the program, over 50% of Mitsubishi Power employees in Saudi Arabia are Saudi nationals, both male and female. These employees obtain technical skills for the energy sector via on-the-job training and knowledge exchange programs in Japan and Saudi Arabia.

By localizing turbine production in the Kingdom, Mitsubishi Power is enabling self-reliance in energy infrastructure, supporting industrial growth, and adhering to the Saudi Green Initiative’s target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the circular carbon economy. In the Kingdom, the company works with the Ministry of Energy, Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Electricity Co., and the Saline Water Conversion Corp.

M100S Gas Turbine

In early October, Mitsubishi Power agreed to deliver a 100-MW gas turbine combined-cycle (GTCC) power plant, driven by a M100S small- to medium-sized gas turbine, for Jiangsu Lihuai Steel’s plant in Huai’an City, China. The M100S turbine fires blast furnace gas (BFG) and will be deployed as a core component of the GTCC plant. Jiangsu Lihuai Steel will begin GTCC operation in 2027, with the turbine and related equipment manufactured and supplied by Takasago Machinery Works and other equipment procured by Dongfang Turbine Co. The company will dispatch technical advisors for installation and commissioning.

The M100S combines technology for BFG-fired large-scale turbines with technology for natural gas-fired JAC gas turbines, boasting high performance and reliability. In a combined-cycle setting, the M100S power plant has a 100-MW output and is smaller and more efficient than traditional models. Byproduct gas from blast furnaces, coke ovens, and converters will be used as fuel. BFG has a lower calorific value than natural gas and other fuels, so advanced technology is needed to achieve stable BFG combustion in gas turbines.