Alstom, a global leader in power equipment and rail infrastructure, has won two contracts worth a total of €57 million ($82.6 million) from the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC).

Alstom Grid's scope includes complete project management from initial design, procurement and logistics, to commissioning, as well as the supply of the 132 kV power transformers, capacitor banks, and automation solutions, for five substation extensions and two new substations.

The five substation extensions are located in Dirab, Huraymila, Al-Hayit, Baqaa and Al-Rosan. The two new 132 kV / 13.8 kV substations both located in Riyadh will improve energy supply to the King Faisl Hospital and the Al-Taawoon neighbourhood.

The engineering, project management and the development of the automation solutions will be carried out locally, enhancing Alstom Grid’s sustainable footprint in Saudi Arabia. The projects are expected to be completed by December 2012.

Today, the existing total Saudi generation capacity is around 40 GW. Based on an expected 7-8 per cent growth in electrical demand, this will reach 70 GW by 2020. As a result, the authorities embarked on a long-term, ambitious development plan to strengthen the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.

“We are proud to further strengthen our partnership with SEC and confirm our commitment to the important Saudi Arabian market with these contracts,” stated Henri Poupart-Lafarge, president of Alstom Grid.

“Alstom Grid is one of our key partners for our growth and these two major contracts reinforce our strategic collaboration,” added Saleh Al-Onaizan, CEO, Transmission Co in SEC.

Alstom Grid had earlier delivered the world’s largest gas-insulated substation and the Gulf’s largest High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter station - 3x600 MW - interconnecting the six member GCC states - to the country.-TradeArabia News Service