The new substation will be built close to the PP3 power plant, which is to be expanded by the local National Contracting Company (NCC - see above).

Letters of award have also been issued for other substations. The local Arabian Bemco Contractinghas won three 110/13.8-kV GIS substation contracts, one at Saudia City in Jeddah, one at Al-Aos in Medina and another in Zahra in Mecca.

Further transmission and distribution (T&D) work is planned in the Eastern Province. SEC has invited companies to prequalify by 2 August for a contract to build a 380-kV GIS substation at Al-Shumlul, about 250 kilometres west of Dammam. The scope of works also comprises modifications to the existing 380-kV Al-Fadhili substation.

Prequalification documents are also due to be submitted by 2 August for a lump-sum turnkey contract involving the installation of a 415-kilometre, 380-kV double-circuit overhead transmission line linking the Al-Fadhili and Al-Shumlul substations with the Sudair substation, located 150 kilometres north of Riyadh (MEED 30:5:03).