OREANDA-NEWS. Hitachi, Ltd. today announced the commencement of operations of Hitachi T&D Systems Saudi Arabia Ltd. ("HTDSA"), a joint venture company with Walid Ahmad Juffali Company Limited ("WJCO") in Transmission & Distribution equipment and systems.

With an investment plan to construct a new manufacturing plant for gas-insulated switchgear to be located in Jeddah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the company will focus on operations for gas-insulated switchgear from design and manufacture, through to assembly, installation and sales, as well as handling the entire process at substations from design through to procurement, construction, maintenance, and other related operations.

HTDSA will positively contribute to Saudi Arabia society by providing highly reliable products and services, and by creating a unique skill set through the training and development of local Saudi Arabia talent.

There is a growing need for a variety of electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure in conjunction with increasing introduction of renewable energy in recent years, in addition to expansion in demand for electric power in emerging countries and demand for renewal of aging transmission and distribution infrastructure in advanced countries.

In the Middle East, an increasing population and economic growth have underpinned a sharp increase in demand for electric power. There is now an urgent need to bolster the power transmission and distribution infrastructure. There is a particularly acute market need in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but needs are compelling even on a global level, for gas-insulated switchgear, which plays a vital role in the field of electric power transmission and distribution. Demand is expected to expand even further going forward.

Hitachi aims to expand its transmission and distribution business in the global market and to this end HTDSA joins an established global network of companies that undertake manufacturing and engineering operations located in Atlanta, Suzhou, Shandong, Taichung, Jakarta and Singapore as it continues to promote its global business development.

Looking ahead, Hitachi will utilize its global production and engineering bases to answer the needs of countries and regions seeking to establish and expand their power transmission and distribution infrastructure by providing entire power-grid system solutions.