Makeen, the joint venture formed between HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments (Dussur) and Saudi Arabian Development Co. (SADCO), has broken ground on the construction of a new engine production and service facility in Ras Al-Khair, near Jubail in Saudi Arabia.
The new 150,000 m2 production plant is the first in Saudi Arabia capable of locally producing large-bore, medium speed diesel and dual-fuel (DF) engines. The plant represents the first time that HD Hyundai will licence the manufacture of its HiMSEN 4-stroke, medium speed engines outside Korea.
The new production facility will also operate under a MAN-HHI sublicense for the manufacturing and servicing of 2-stroke engines.
The manufacturing facility will be co-located close to the maritime yard in Ras Al-Khair, at the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and services.
The engine plant will have a maximum annual production capacity of 30 low-speed 2-stroke engines and 235 medium-speed 4-stroke engines. The facility will also manufacture up to 160 marine pumps per year.
The production plant is expected to begin full-scale production by Q4 2025.
At the time of the original MoU decision in 2017, Aramco noted that the 4-stroke engines were intended to be supplied for very large and small vessels, as well as for electricity generation in the local stationary market.
