Saudi Electricity Co (SEC) awarded a 1.08 billion riyal ($288 million) contract to Arabian Bemco Contracting Co to expand one of its power plants to meet growing demand, state news agency SPA said.

The increased capacity will boost electricity production in Qassim, an agricultural region in the centre of Saudi Arabia, which has reached a load of 2,000 megawatts.

'The firm has authorised this year projects worth 2.2 billion riyals in Qassim to meet the growing demand for electricity,' Ali Saleh al-Barrak, SEC's chief executive, was quoted by SPA as saying.

The new projects will be completed within three years, he said. - Reuters