$ 80 billion power boost for Kingdom

The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) plans to spend $ 80 billion over the next 10 years to meet the Kingdom's rising demand for electricity.
The country needs over 30,000MW extra capacity by the year 2020.
The SEC had a total installed capacity of 54,000MW at the end of 2012 and will add around 4,000MW over the next 12 months, with another 8,000MW by 2014.
It is expecting to add 24,500MW to raise the total installed capacity in the Kingdom to 95,000MW by 2020.
The company is also trying to supplement its supply with solar energy. The government has already announced plans to invest SR 408.75 billion to produce 41 gigawatts of solar energy by 2032.
Riyadh Gov. Prince Khaled bin Bandar yesterday launched new power projects worth SR 1.126 billion in Joubah, with Deputy Gov. Prince Turki bin Abdullah.
Prince Khaled laid the foundation stones for the electricity connection project between Wadi Al-Dawasser and Sulayel governorates.
“The expansion of the power station will cost SR 363 million and the electricity interconnection project SR 763 million,” said Ali bin Saleh Al-Barrak, CEO of the SEC.
Prince Khaled also inaugurated the Prince Nasser bin Abdul Aziz Sports City in Wadi Al-Dawasser. The function was attended by Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, head of the Youth Welfare Presidency.
The governor toured the sports city and was briefed on its facilities and services. He later launched a number of education, training and municipal projects in the city.
Addressing a ceremony on the occasion, Prince Khaled commended the people of Wadi Al-Dawasser for helping to develop the nation. “My visit to Wadi Al-Dawasser is to understand the development needs of its people,” he said.