Emaar, The Economic City awards electrical transmission and distribution contract for KAEC to Siemens

The work is scheduled to be completed by 2010.

Mr Fahd Al-Rasheed, Board Member and Chief Executive Officer, Emaar.E.C, and Mr Christian Selch, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Saudi Arabia, signed the deal in Jeddah, recently.

As per the agreement, Siemens will undertake the T&D work for the mega-project in a timely manner.

Mr Al-Rasheed said:

"King Abdullah Economic City has made rapid progress in the development of its various components including the residential units that were launched to overwhelming investor response. Offering the highest infrastructure support is part of our developmental strategy, and Siemens, with its established track record, has the competencies to lay out a world-class transmission and distribution grid to serve the first phase of KAEC."

Mr Selch said: "KAEC is one of the largest development projects in the region. Through the contract for T&D work, we are being part of a truly global undertaking. Our aim is to assist the country as it continues to move towards a leading role in the international arena. We are committed to introducing world-class standards and undertake the work according to schedule."

The scope of the contract covers laying out 110kV/13.8 kV electrical substations and transmission infrastructure over the Industrial Zone, Resort Cove and Bay La Sun Village - the first integrated residential community launched in KAEC.

The work includes design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of up to 3 sub-stations and related facilities to ensure seamless power connectivity across the project.

Siemens will also undertake the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning works for 110kV cable connections from the Industrial Zone substation to Resort Cove substation and from Resort Cove substation to Bay La Sun Village substation.

King Abdullah Economic City is situated on 168 million sq m of land on the Red Sea coast. The mega-project features six zones - the Sea Port, Industrial Zone, Central Business District, Educational Zone, Resort District and Residential Communities.

The first phase of the project including the Industrial Zone, Sea Port and Residential Communities has been launched, and work is progressing as per schedule.