The authorities are adding an additional 6,000 megawatts to the country's electricity grid to meet with rising demand, according to Dr. Saleh Al-Awaji, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Water and Electricity for Electricity Affairs. This will be a boost to the country's current 40,000 megawatt capacity. He said the ministry is currently working on multi-billion power projects worth SR80 billion to upgrade power generating plants across the country. It is hoped these gigantic projects would end power cuts which usually happen during summer because of the heavy loads. Power generating plants which have entered into service this year include the Jubail Power Station in the Eastern Province with a capacity of 2,200 megawatt and the Al-Qarryia Power Station with a capacity of 1,200 megawatt. Another in the Central Region with an 800 megawatt capacity is already operational. Dr. Al-Awaji called on the consumers to use electricity sparingly. Subscribers to the Saudi Electricity Company are responsible for 60 percent of the power cuts during summer because of excessive consumption, he said. The Council of Ministers on Monday approved a SR15 billion soft loan to the cash-strapped Saudi Electricity Company for 25 years. The loan will be provided in two years. The Cabinet took the decision after the Minister of Water and Electricity had called for an emergency bailout of the company. The SEC posted a net loss of SR782 million in three months to the end of March, compared to SR771 million a year earlier. The company had sought supply from independent producers and costs of new projects have risen. The Saudi Electricity Company reportedly will use the money to expand the Rabegh power plant – to meet growing demand in Makkah and Madina. The project will be completed in 2014 and increase capacity to more than 5,000 megawatt.
