The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has awarded five construction contracts worth a total of SR1.6bn ($427m) for electricity transmission work in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia.

The largest two contracts were awarded to the local Middle East Engineering & Development. The first of these was a SR521m deal to construct a 380kV overhead line from Al-Lith to Muhayel. The second is the SR472m contract to construct 380kV and 132kV overhead lines in the same area.

The National Contracting Company was awarded a SR220m deal for 380kV underground cable work in the eastern region.

SEC awarded a joint venture of the local AL-Touki Contracting and the local Ozdil Company for Power a SR187.3m contract to provide a 380kV overhead transmission line from Namerah to Bishah. The fifth award was a SR174m deal won by the local Saudi Services for Electro Mechanical to construct a 380kV overhead line from the Shoaiba 3 power and desalination plant to Al-Lith.

The awards are the second batch of contracts the kingdom’s main electricity provider has awarded in the past month. On 24 December, the company awarded two other deals worth a total of SR657m for two electricity projects in the western region of the kingdom.

For the first project, SEC awarded the local Saudi Services for Electro Mechanic Works a SR398.4m contract to reinforce a 380kV cable network in the city of Jeddah. For the second scheme, the local National Contracting Company (NCC) was awarded a SR258.6m deal to build a 380kV overhead transmission line in the Duba al-Bida area in the western region.