Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif has opened two electricity projects in Alquraya in the province.

They include the expansion of a power plant and an independent production project (IPP), both in Alquraya.

Abdullah Al-Husain, minister of water and electricity, EP Mayor Fahd Al-Jubair and Abqaiq Mayor Abdulatif Muhammad Abdulqader were present at the inauguration.

Prince Saud thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman for their continuous support to the electricity sector as well as the projects meant to meet the basic needs of the citizens.

He said the projects for expanding the power plant in Alquraya, the independent production project (IPP) in Alquraya as well as the Hajar project for independent production valued at SR14 billion and many other major projects will meet the community’s basic power needs.

Ali Al-Barak, CEO of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), said: “The opening a new power plant marks a new chapter in the development of the area. It will also support our measures at SEC to move forward.”

Al-Barak said SEC accomplished many projects since 2000 with the demand for electricity increasing by 9 percent at that time.

SEC worked hard to increase the generation capacity to 25,000 MW in 2000.

“In fact, demand for electricity over the last 13 years has made SEC work hard for meeting the current and future requirements,” he said.

“Currently, we generate 57,000 MW, an increase of 137 percent compared to 2000. However, this achievement has led to increasing the efficiency of electrical system and meeting the demand for power with the massive increase of subscribers.”

During the last 20 years, he said, electricity coverage expanded a great deal, with the number of subscribers jumping from 700,000 to 1,300,000 and the loads increasing from 6000 MW to 15,000 MW.

He stressed that the entire region is covered 100 percent with electricity.

Al-Barak said the project was also meant to convert the mini-gas power plants to a combined cycle. This will reduce the fuel consumption and increase the generated capacity by 50 percent. It will also help to reduce the emission of gas in order to keep the environment pollution free.

He added: “We have 21 similar projects, which will become operational by 2020.”

Mohammed bin Abdullah, chairman of the board of directors at Aqua power, said during his speech that the private sector participation in the government projects is an essential part and important policy of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Abdullah to give more participatory opportunities to the private sector.