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GE Breaks Ground on New Power Technology Center in Russia’s Kaluga Region; Planned Investments to Total $50 Million


WEBWIRE

GE Expands Capabilities in Russia to Meet Customers’ Growing Energy Needs

MOSCOW - GE Energy today held a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the start of construction for GE’s new Power Technology Center in the Kaluga Region of Russia, 180 kilometers southwest of Moscow. The technology center further expands GE’s in-country capabilities to deliver its products and services to customers across Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that are pushing to modernize their energy assets.

“General Electric’s project in the Kaluga region is further proof of the fact that foreign business and regional authorities are able to work constructively and productively in modern Russia. The project is significant for us as an example of effective cooperation in the high-tech sphere,” said Anatoly Dmitrievich Artamonov, governor of the Kaluga Region.

GE signed the agreement to construct the technology center in March 2009 with the government of the Kaluga Region, the Kaluga Region Development Corporation and the administration of Kaluga City.

Today’s groundbreaking ceremony was attended by John Krenicki, GE vice chairman and president and CEO of GE Energy; Governor Artamonov; and other key representatives from the Russian government and the U.S. embassy.

GE’s initial investment in the Kaluga center is US$30 million, but that figure is expected to grow to $50 million by the time the facility is commissioned in late 2010.

“General Electric’s products are popular in many countries all over the world among customers who value quality, reliability, safety and comfort. We welcome in our region investors with such an excellent reputation,” said Governor Artamonov. “Despite a relatively small number of workers, the investment planned is more than 870 million rubles. It is very important, as this project will be the only center repairing GE power components in Russia. I want to wish them good luck. The company management can count on our support at all stages of the project implementation.”

“The establishment of the new Power Technology Center demonstrates our commitment to support and invest in the modernization of Russia’s energy infrastructure and their energy efficiency goals,” said Krenicki. “The Kaluga center is the latest step in our localization strategy in Russia, bringing our world-class technology and services closer to our customers in the country and also throughout the CIS region.”

Krenicki noted that the GE Power Technology Center “will expand the opportunities for local employment and training in high-tech engineering positions. We plan to initially employ between 50-75 highly skilled Russian engineers and sales staff at the Kaluga facility, who will have access to GE Energy’s world-class training and development programs. We also are exploring the sourcing of products and components for the center from the region’s suppliers.”

GE has been active in Russia since the early 1900s, and today offers a full range of products and services for the country’s energy sector, from oil and gas exploration and production through power generation. GE’s installed base of equipment in Russia and the CIS includes more than 560 gas turbines, 660 compressors, 65 steam turbines, 800 units of additional equipment. In addition, more than 230 GE Jenbacher gas engines have been delivered throughout Russia, in applications ranging from flare gas reduction to high-efficiency combined heat and power projects.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2008 revenue of $29.3 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

About GE

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.



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