Refurbishment contract will safeguard jobs at Siemens

May 28 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A MULTI-million pound engineering contract will safeguard Tyneside jobs and secure the future success of an industrial powerhouse.

The Siemens site in Newcastle has clinched a major refurbishment contract worth more than £18m following nearly two years of negotiations with an Oxfordshire power plant.

It is the fourth major order awarded by energy company RWE npower to Siemens Energy Service Fossil in the last three months.

And last night company representatives claimed the deal would secure the future of the site and protect the jobs of their 900 employees.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “This will safeguard jobs at the site. It’s a huge contract and it’s one of many that is in the pipeline for the company.

“It’s impossible to say the impact it will have on job numbers but it goes a long way to establishing the longevity of the business and ensuring its future success.”

The Oxfordshire-based Didcot B site provides electricity for 1.5m and Siemens has been enlisted to carry out maintenance work on their turbines.

Meanwhile the work carried out by Siemens Energy Service Fossil will include the production of large and complex components.

Carl Ennis, managing director of Siemens Energy Service Fossil, said: “We are delighted that RWE npower has once again recognised our ongoing commitment to quality service and well structured advance planning with this significant parts contract award.

“The refurbishment of the gas turbines will ensure that Didcot B continues to deliver optimum energy efficiency and overall performance in the line of its duty as one of the UK’s leading power generation plants.”