RIYADH – The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) signed on Wednesday four contracts for carrying out electricity projects worth over SR2.3 billion. This is in addition to 17 projects whose cost exceeded SR7 billion and which the Board of Directors of the company had agreed to award two weeks ago. The numerous projects are being planned so as to boost the electricity system and provide reliable electricity service to all its clients. Chairman of the board of directors of the company Dr. Saleh Hussein Al-Awaji said the first project is to set up an electricity transformer station with a voltage of 33/132/380 kilovolts. Its capacity will be 600 megawatts. It will be located near Tabarjal in the Northern Frontier Region. This plant will contribute to providing electricity to Wa'd Al-Shimal city for mining industries, which is being established with world standards. The second project is to set up an electricity transformer station with a voltage of 115/380 kilovolts in Al-Oqair in the Eastern Province. The plant will contribute in boosting electricity in the Eastern Province so as to meet the growing demand for electricity in the region. Awaji mentioned that the projects are to be set up for developing Al-Oqair Tourism. These two plants will enter service within 29 months from the date of signing the contracts. He said the third contract is for the construction of a double line with a voltage of 380 kilovolts so as to link the generating plants in Tabuk and Tabarjal. The aim is also to achieve ideal economic operation of the electricity system by exchanging electricity between the Kingdom's regions. The project will be competed in 29 months. The fourth project is for purchasing thermal exchanges for the two projects for setting up the 13th and 14th generating plants in Riyadh region. The project will be carried out within 32 to 38 months from the date of signing the contract. Saudi Electricity Company is carrying out numerous mega projects including generating plants, transmission lines and distribution networks at a cost exceeding SR150 billion.
