New Rabigh power plant to add 1,204 MW of generating capacity

Rabigh Power Plant, the first independent project for the production of electrical power in Saudi Arabia, was inaugurated here, with the support of Minister of Water and Electricity Abdullah Al-Hussayen and in the presence of the top executives of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Rabigh Electricity Co. The project involved a total investment of about SR10 billion.
The Rabigh plant is considered one of the mega power projects to generate electricity in the Kingdom.
The project adds 1,204 MW of new generating capacity boosting the Kingdom’s electricity network.
Deputy Minister for Electricity in the Ministry of Water and Electricity Saleh Al-Awaji inaugurated the plant on May 29.
Speaking on behalf of Al-Hussayen, Al-Awaji said this is the first of the company’s projects in which the private sector participated in building an independent power plant.
This move is aimed at enhancing the Kingdom’s generation of power capacity.
Abdullah Al-Shehri, governor of Electricity & Co-Generation Regulatory Authority (ECRA), Ziad Al-Shiha, CEO of Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC) and Thamer Al-Sharhan, chairman of Rabigh Arabian Water and Electricity Co. (RAWEC) and some officials of water and electricity sectors participated in the inauguration ceremony.
Al-Awaji welcomed the guests from both water and electricity sectors, and honored Saeed Mohammed Al-Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
Al-Awaji said: “This is first of the company’s projects in which the private sector participated in building an independent power plant. This move will be followed by more such projects in the near future, where this initiative is aimed at thrusting the Kingdom’s output capacity. It also comes in line with the policy of the Kingdom to enhance the participation of the private sector in electricity projects with international entities."
He added: "The high pressure on electricity is one of the challenges faced by this sector, which resulted in addition to the generating capacity. The demand rate exceeds 8 percent, which means that we need to add the 5000 KW per year. To achieve this, an estimated investment required for these projects is at least SR500 billion.”
He added: "This project is an award-winning best energy deal in 2009. It's the first independent project for the production of electrical power in Saudi Arabia that is based on the operation and the production of electricity on thermal steam turbine technology, and with its inauguration it will contribute to cover the growing demand for electricity in the Western Region. It’s noteworthy that Rabigh Electricity Company has completed 45 million man-hours without any work injury."
Al-Sharhan, chairman of the board of directors of RAWEC, thanked the leadership of the Kingdom for their unlimited support to the electricity sector. He added that what has been achieved by RAWEC toward development of electricity programs is compatible with the development of infrastructure and strategic plans of the Ministry of Water and Electricity and Electricity & Co-Generation Regulatory Authority (ECRA).