Alstom, a provider of advanced electrical grid solutions, has won a total of nine contracts worth around 130 million euros ($176.5 million) in Saudi Arabia.

The contracts awarded by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), Saudi Arabia’s electricity utility, have helped expand its presence in the kingdom, said a statement.

It has produced and installed major equipment for the Saudi power grid, through its sustained relationship with SEC, following the recent turnkey metro project in Riyadh and the supply of steam turbine generators for Shuqaiq power plant, it said.

Saudi Arabia’s electricity demand is currently rising at 8 per cent per year, with extensive plans for industrial development by 2022, with six new major cities being built across the kingdom.

This electricity demand is expected to reach 70 GW by 2020, against a current national generation capacity of 40 GW.

The nine contracts include the turnkey installation of six new 110 kV gas-insulated substations - four in Jeddah and two in Madinah; the turnkey supply of a Static VAr Compensator designed to improve power stability for Quwayyah 132 kV substation; supply of four auto-transformers for the substation of Ashbliyah; installation of three complete automation and protection systems for three 380 kV substations in the central region; supply and installation of a new iDMS control centre to manage the Madinah’s electricity distribution network; and supply and installation of a turnkey telecom system to connect the Al Mashaaer 380 kV substation to SEC’s telecoms network.

Stephane Cai, vice-president for the near Middle East Region, said:“Alstom has been present in Saudi Arabia for over 50 years and we’re very proud that over 20 per cent of the kingdom’s power is generated by Alstom equipment. This relationship is going one step further as we work hand in hand with SEC in their expansion of the national Saudi Grid”. - TradeArabia News Service