Firms prepare bids for Saudi PP9 power project

23 March 2015

Combined-cycle conversion project will boost plant’s capacity by 240MW

  • Bids are due in at end of March for EPC contract to convert Riyadh power plant
  • Project will increase capacity of plant by 240MW
  • State utility Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) is planning to push ahead with two other combined-cycle conversion projects in 2015

Firms are preparing to submit bids for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to convert the PP9 power plant to combined-cycle, which will increase its capacity by about 240MW.

Contractors will submit prices on 31 March for the conversion and expansion of the PP9 project, located in the kingdom’s capital city, Riyadh.

The PP9 scheme was constructed as a 1,200MW power plant between 1995 and 2003, and, following a couple of expansions, the capacity reached 3,500MW by 2009.

As part of its proposed projects for 2015, state utility Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) is also planning to convert the existing Tihama and Wade al-Dawasir power plants to combined-cycle.

SEC is also pushing ahead with plans to build two major integrated solar combined-cycle (ISCC) projects in 2015. The utility has invited contractors to submit bids for the 1,050MW Waad al-Shamal power plant and the 550MW Duba 1 generation facility in early April.

The power projects are part of the kingdom’s efforts to boost generating capacity in the coming years to cope with the expected rise in demand.

In its 2012 annual report, SEC forecast that peak demand will grow from:

  • the 51,900MW recorded in 2012 to
  • 85,000MW in 2020 and
  • 120,000MW by 2030.

Stay informed with the latest in the Middle East
Download the MEED app today, available on Apple and Android devices

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.