Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has started up seven power transformer stations in the northern area with a total value of SR2.1 billion ($560 million) and capacity of 3,613 MVA to connect the area with the main power grid.

The move aims to support the industrialisation and mining projects in the city of Wa’ad Al Shamaal.

SEC has pointed out that the seven stations were connected to the electrical network via aerial and land lines with a length of about 1,592 km. The stations will transfer electricity from the combined-cycle generation plant of Wa’ad Al Shamaal to the manufacturing and mining projects in the city.

The Wa’ad Al Shamaal plant was launched in July with capacity of 1,390 MW, including 50 MW of solar energy. SEC confirmed that the Wa’ad Al Shamaal combined-cycle plant and the seven transfer stations, built at a total cost of SR5.8 billion, will contribute to supporting economic and development projects in the northern regions of the kingdom.