Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of Mitsubishi Power’s most strategic global markets and a prime destination for its sustainable energy investments, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda for localization and clean energy.
The Japanese company is partnering with leading national institutions, including the Ministry of Energy, Saudi Aramco, SABIC, Saudi Electricity Company, ACWA Power, and the Saline Water Conversion Corporation, in addition to projects spearheaded by the Public Investment Fund.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Adel Al-Juraid, CEO of Mitsubishi Power in Saudi Arabia, emphasized that the company’s role extends beyond supplying high-efficiency and reliable energy. It also focuses on knowledge transfer, workforce development, and technology localization through its centers across the Kingdom, where Saudi nationals make up more than half of the workforce.
These efforts, he said, align with the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program to boost local supply chains.
A subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Power specializes in innovative energy solutions aimed at accelerating carbon reduction. The company is also advancing digital transformation by integrating artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things into its operations.
Strategic Projects
Al-Juraid said that Mitsubishi Power has recently secured a strategic contract to supply gas turbines for the Rumah-1 and Nairyah-1 plants, using JAC-class units designed to transition to hydrogen in the future.
He added that the project will add 3.5 gigawatts to the national grid, making it one of the largest power supply projects in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
The turbines will be assembled locally at the company’s Dammam facility, underscoring its role in supporting Vision 2030 industrial goals.
In the industrial sector, Mitsubishi Power is supplying turbines for the SATORP refinery in Jubail - a joint venture between Aramco and TotalEnergies - capable of producing 475 megawatts of power and 452 tons of steam per hour.
The turbines are designed to co-fire hydrogen with natural gas and can be upgraded to operate on 100 percent hydrogen, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s 2060 net-zero ambitions.
Expansion Plans
Al-Juraid stressed that Saudi Arabia is central to Mitsubishi Power’s long-term growth strategy, with plans to expand investments in clean energy and data center infrastructure. Future offerings include hydrogen-ready turbines and carbon capture solutions to help balance productivity with grid reliability. He cited the company’s success in the United States with Georgia Power, where blending hydrogen into turbines cut emissions by 22 percent.
Local Partnerships and Manufacturing
The company operates three service centers in the Kingdom, with its Dammam facility recently localizing the assembly of next-generation gas turbines. According to its CEO, Mitsubishi Power is also exploring partnerships with Saudi universities and innovation hubs in research and development, leveraging expertise from Japan’s Takasago Hydrogen Park, the world’s first dedicated hydrogen validation facility.
Moreover, the company currently holds the largest global market share in gas turbines, with 36 percent overall and 56 percent in advanced turbine categories in 2023, marking the second consecutive year of global leadership.
Concluding, Al-Juraid reaffirmed Mitsubishi Power’s commitment to providing advanced solutions that meet Saudi Arabia’s rising energy demand, particularly from data centers and artificial intelligence applications, while contributing to sustainable economic growth.
