Officials at Mitsubishi Power Systems have approved the third and final phase of a gas turbine manufacturing plant near Savannah.

The company's board on Monday announced the last stage of the facility, which should be completed by 2012.

"We are very pleased to announce final plans for the next step in our business growth in Savannah, as

this helps to keep our development strategy for the site on track," said Dave Walsh, Senior Vice

President at Mitsubishi. "With these plans approved, we are continuing our commitment to create the

premier US service and manufacturing facility for the energy industry."

Mitsubishi Power is the first tenant at a large industrial site that had sat vacant for seven years after Daimler-Chrysler abandoned a plan to build vans there.

Once fully staffed, Mitsubishi expects to employ 500 workers.

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