Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) is planning to tender a contract for a large-scale thermal power plant at a site on the country’s eastern coast.

The project will have a capacity of 3,000-3,600MW and is to be constructed on an engineering, procurement and construction basis. Several sites are being considered for the project.

According to a source at SEC, it will most likely feature supercritical technology. The tender will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The thermal power plant will mirror a similar – but smaller – plant at Jeddah South. Commercial bids have been invited for the 2,400MW Jeddah South project.

The following companies submitted technical bids to build the project in April:

• Daelim (South Korea)
• Samsung C&T (South Korea)
• Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Company (South Korea) and Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea)
• Alstom (France)
• Siemens (Germany)

Demand for power is rapidly rising in Saudi Arabia. By 2021, peak demand is forecast to reach 87.76GW. The east coast power plant and Jeddah South project are part of SEC’s capacity-building plans and will help the country keep pace with demand.