Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Co (Gamco) and Rolls Royce Energy are setting up a joint venture to repair and overhaul Rolls Royce Trent's industrial gas turbines.

Rolls Royce Energy Systems recently won a contract from Dolphin Energy for six gas turbine compression trains for the facilities at Ras Laffan in Qatar. There is also a six-year, long-term service agreement - valued at $50 million - for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of industrial gas turbines.

The long-term service agreement includes maintenance and supervision, training, availability guarantees, spare parts, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and repair and overhaul of the industrial Trent gas turbines.

It also includes the development of all necessary infrastructures at Gamco to undertake repair and overhaul facilities to service the units. There is an option to extend the service agreement for the life of the equipment.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by Gamco and Rolls Royce Energy in Abu Dhabi yesterday, under which Gamco will be the approved centre for maintenance of the gas turbines for the Middle East and North Africa.

"I view this agreement with Rolls Royce as part of Gamco's continuing pro-gress in providing local technical services for Dolphin Energy and other national companies producing oil, gas, power and water," said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Gamco chairman.

Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, chief executive of Dolphin Energy Ltd, said: "We are delighted that Gamco, a major national industrial company, will be supporting the Dolphin Gas project through this important long-term service agreement."