Switzerland’s ABB has won a $78m contract from state utility Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to provide transformers for two new power plants in the kingdom.

The Swiss firm will supply generator step-up (GSU) transformers, power transformers and service transformers for two of SEC’s combined-cycle power plants, which will boost transmission capacity around the capital Riyadh and the surrounding central area of the kingdom.

This is the second transmission and distribution (T&D) contract ABB has won in the kingdom in recent months.

In March, SEC awarded the company a $110m contract to build and upgrade existing electrical substations in the western region of the kingdom.

The substations will link the Taif East area, in the Mecca region, to the kingdom’s 380kV national grid. The 110kV power supply from the substations will serve the areas of Turbah, Al-Khumrah and Rania, and will reduce the need for diesel-generated power in isolated areas.

ABB will design, supply and install a new 380kV substation and expand existing substations in Bisha and Sised to support the 380kV grid interconnection.

The projects are part of the kingdom’s efforts to boost generation and T&D capacities to deal with the rapidly growing residential and industrial demand for electricity. For the first half of 2014, Saudi Arabia accounted for most of the $6.7bn of power project contracts awarded in the GCC, with $4.2bn-worth of deals awarded in the kingdom’s power sector.