GDF Suez has won a contract to build a gas power plants of 1730 MW capacity in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh IPP.
The plant will be located about 25 km west of Riyadh, the capital.
In parallel, GDF Group signed today, in collaboration with its partners Arabia (Aljomaih Holding Co.) and Japanese (Sojitz Corporation), a contract for wind power (energy produced by the Independent Power Project, IPP) for Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) state company involved in generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Saudi Arabia.
Under the agreement terms, SEC will buy all electricity produced over a period of 20 years. The total investment for building the plants will reach about 2.1 billion dollars.
Early operation is scheduled on May 1, 2012 and the complete plant operation is scheduled for March 2013. With Marafiq, the world largest project, combining electricity generation and seawater desalination, and Riyadh project, GDF group will increase power to about 4,500 MW.
Riyadh is one of three IPP projects in Saudi Arabia country whose annual demand for electricity grows by 8%, aiming at achieving an installed capacity of 5200 MW by 2015.
Middle East is a priority and strategic development area for GDF group. In late May 2010, GDF SUEZ has won a 1.7 billion dollar contract for two power plants in Oman, Barka 3 and Sohar 2, of 1500 MW total power.
