Saudi power projects hit record high
21 February 2025
Saudi Arabia has entered what could be the busiest period for power generation capacity buildout in its history.
According to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects and MEED, power generation projects with a total capacity of 53GW are under construction, or are about to start construction following the formal award of contracts or the selection of bidders.
Generation and cogeneration plants powered by natural gas account for two-thirds, or 66.7%, of the total capacity under construction, with renewable energy plants – mainly solar – accounting for the rest.
Solar and wind power plants dominate the pre-execution pipeline, however, accounting for about 94% of the capacity that is currently under bid or prequalification.
The total thermal and renewable generation capacity being planned and tendered in Saudi Arabia, inclusive of projects in the study and design phases, stood at about 80GW as of February 2025.
The major capacity buildout is in line with the kingdom's liquid displacement programme, as well as its target for renewable energy sources to account for half its electricity production by 2030.
According to the Energy Institute, Saudi Arabia's total electricity generation in 2023 reached 422.9 terawatt-hours (TWh). Oil accounted for 152.1TWh, or about 36% of the total, while natural gas accounted for 265TWh, or 63%, and renewables made up 5.8TWh or 1%.
CCGT plants
The urgency of displacing the kingdom's oil-fired fleet underpins the successive contract awards for combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power generation plants, which are being developed as independent power projects (IPPs) or via engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts.
About 47% of the 35.8GW of gas-fired capacity that is under construction is being built via an EPC or design-and-build model, mainly by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC). The rest is being constructed using an IPP model.
Of the total thermal capacity under construction, about 45% will be generated by greenfield power plants that are being built as an expansion to existing power generation facilities in the kingdom.
Chinese contractors such as Sepco 3 and China Energy Engineering Corporation are among the firms constructing 10 of the 19 gas-fired power generation and cogeneration plants that are under execution in Saudi Arabia. An 11th plant is being constructed by Sepco 3 in partnership with Doosan Enerbility of South Korea. The 11 plants equate to a capacity of about 21GW.
South Korean contractors – primarily Doosan and Samsung C&T – are involved in four of the 19 projects.
"I think the Chinese EPC contractors are already at capacity, so SEC has started tapping Egyptian and Spanish EPC contractors," an industry source tells MEED, in reference to Tecnicas Reunidas, Orascom and Elsewedy, which were selected last year to undertake the EPC contracts for several CCGT plants.
The peak for new gas-fired contract awards may have passed, however.
Data from MEED Projects indicates that four cogeneration plants with a combined capacity of about 1.5GW are in the pre-execution stage. Meanwhile, at least two gas-fired IPP schemes – Shoaiba and Al-Shuqaiq – are currently under study, each with a planned capacity of 2.6GW.
However, the possibility of an unexpected new project, like the 3GW expansion of the Qurayyah IPP, which was announced on 20 February, cannot be ruled out.
Renewables
A reverse trend could be seen for renewable solar power generation capacity.
As of February 2025, nearly all renewable energy capacity under construction in Saudi Arabia is being developed as IPPs.
About 43% of these IPPs are publicly tendered by the principal buyer, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC). The rest are directly negotiated by Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the dominant local utility developer, Acwa Power.
The pre-execution pipeline for solar and wind energy projects that will be procured by SEC and gigaproject developer Neom is extensive, especially given that the Energy Ministry has issued a directive that up to 20GW of renewable energy capacity be procured annually until 2030, subject to demand growth.
"It is a massive pipeline," notes a Dubai-based senior transaction adviser.
However, he also notes that a re-scoping process is under way, especially for renewable energy projects that are designed to cater to Neom, the $500bn development in northwestern Saudi Arabia, which aims to be powered 100% by renewables by 2030.
Issues related to land allocation may also arise, if they haven't already, notes another industry expert.
The deployment of additional renewable energy capacity also requires a major battery energy storage system buildout. Efforts towards this got under way last year to ensure the flexibility of the electricity grid.
"The question is how many batteries they will need and how many batteries will be available to support that ambition," the source said.
Data centres
In addition to the liquid displacement programme and the 50% renewable energy production target by 2030, Saudi Arabia has been seeing a major uptick in data centre construction projects, in line with a plan to become a major artificial intelligence (AI) hub.
Hyperscalers such as Amazon Web Services, Google and Microsoft plan to expand their digital or cloud infrastructure in Saudi Arabia in line with this strategy. These and other AI players, as well as local firms such as DataVolt, Ezditek, Alfanar and the UAE-based Gulf Data Hub, pledged about $15bn of investments in this type of infrastructure during the Leap technology conference, which took place in Riyadh on 9-12 February. More investments are expected to be announced in the coming months and years.
These projects, assuming they all come to fruition, will significantly increase computing, cooling and overall electricity demand. The need to make these advanced data centres as sustainable as possible will also further incentivise the kingdom's national renewable energy programme.
JOIN THE LEADERS BUILDING VISION 2030 AT THE 3RD EDITION OF MEED's SAUDI GIGAPROJECTS SUMMIT
12-14 May – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.
Exclusive from Meed
-
-
Doosan confirms Saudi Jafurah 2 cogen contract2 June 2026
-
-
-
All of this is only 1% of what MEED.com has to offer
Subscribe now and unlock all the 153,671 articles on MEED.com
- All the latest news, data, and market intelligence across MENA at your fingerprints
- First-hand updates and inside information on projects, clients and competitors that matter to you
- 20 years' archive of information, data, and news for you to access at your convenience
- Strategize to succeed and minimise risks with timely analysis of current and future market trends
Related Articles
-
Kuwait receives bids for Al-Khairan phase one IWPP
2 June 2026
Two developer consortiums have submitted bids for the first phase of Kuwait’s Al-Khairan independent water and power producer (IWPP) project, according to a source.
Bids were received by the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (Kapp) on 1 June.
The facility will have a capacity of 1,800MW and 150,000 cubic metres a day of desalinated water. It will be located in Al-Khairan, adjacent to the Al-Zour South thermal plant.
The bidders include:
- Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) / A H Al-Sagar & Brothers (Saudi Arabia)
- Acwa (Saudi Arabia) / Gulf Investment Corporation (Kuwait)
The Al-Khairan IWPP is being procured by Kapp in partnership with the Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (MEWRE).
The main contract was tendered last September. Three consortiums and two individual companies were previously prequalified to participate in the tender.
Ernst & Young, BNP Paribas, AtkinsRealis and Addleshaw Goddard are financial advisers on the project. Chadbourne & Parke is acting as legal adviser.
The winning bidder will sign a set of public-private partnership agreements covering financing, design, construction, operation and transfer of the project. The energy conversion and water-purchase agreement is expected to cover a 25-year supply period.
Future phases
The Al-Khairan IWPP project is expected to run on low-sulphur fuel oil as the primary fuel and to accommodate crude oil, gas oil and natural gas as backup fuels. Future phases will further expand capacity.
It is understood that the estimated $750m second phase of the Al-Khairan IWPP project will add a further 1,800MW of generation capacity through a combined-cycle gas-fired power plant.
The project, first mooted over a decade ago, remains in the early development stages, with no plans currently to advance to procurement in 2026, a source said.
According to the source, the immediate focus is on advancing plans for the 3,600MW Nuwaiseeb power and water desalination IWPP project.
The Nuwaiseeb IWPP plant will have a desalination capacity of 75 million imperial gallons a day.
Kapp plans to release a transaction advisory tender for the project by the end of the year.
> Be recognised among the best in the industry at the MEED Projects Awards 2026 …
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17072685/main.jpg -
Doosan confirms Saudi Jafurah 2 cogen contract
2 June 2026
South Korea’s Doosan Enerbility has confirmed it has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth about $556m for the second phase of the Jafurah combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Saudi Arabia.
The project is being developed by Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) in partnership with Saudi Aramco.
Doosan said the contract covers design, equipment supply, installation, construction and commissioning of the facility.
The Jafurah CHP phase 2 project will be built near the Jafurah gas field, about 400 kilometres east of Riyadh. Once operational, it will generate 330MW of electricity and produce 465 tonnes of steam an hour for the nearby gas field.
According to the firm, the project’s main steam turbine will be supplied by Doosan Skoda Power, a subsidiary of Doosan Enerbility.
WSP is acting as the project management consultant for the project, which is scheduled for completion in 2029.
The Jafurah gas development is part of Aramco’s $3.2bn unconventional resources programme, which aims to develop shale gas in three areas. Jafurah lies southeast of Ghawar, the world’s largest conventional oil field.
The programme is part of Riyadh’s plans under Vision 20230 to ensure the kingdom remains self-sufficient in gas supply amid rising demand from the residential and industrial power sectors.
Jafurah phase one
In February 2025, MEED exclusively reported that talks were under way to expand the capacity of the $500m Jafurah cogeneration independent steam and power plant (ISPP).
Construction works were completed on the facility last November.
At the time of its procurement, the plant’s first phase was to have a power capacity of 270-320MW, and a low-pressure (LP) steam demand of 77-166 thousand pounds an hour (klb/hr) and high-pressure (HP) steam demand of 29-126 klb/hour by 2023.
The LP and HP steam demand will increase to 283-373 klb/hr and 66-321 klb/hr by 2027, respectively.
The oil giant issued the letter of award to Kepco for the contract to develop the Jafurah ISPP scheme in July 2022.
Kepco subsequently awarded South Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction the project’s EPC contract.
US/India-based Synergy Consulting provided financial advisory services to Kepco on its bid.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) served as the client’s financial adviser for the project. Germany’s Fichtner Consulting Engineers is technical consultant, while the UK’s Wood Group is project management consultant.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17072199/main.jpg -
Al-Mabanee submits lowest bids for Kuwait infrastructure
2 June 2026
Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has opened commercial bids for two major infrastructure and public buildings packages at South Al-Mutlaa Residential City.
Local firm Al-Mabanee United Company has emerged as the lowest bidder for both contracts, submitting combined offers worth KD44m. Both packages entail the construction, completion and maintenance of services, infrastructure works and public buildings for different district centres within the city.
The first contract covers the infrastructure and public buildings for the N3 District Centre. PAHW received proposals from eight bidders, with Al-Mabanee United Company submitting the lowest price at KD20.9m. The second-lowest offer was submitted by The Contractor General Trading & Contracting Company at KD22.4m, followed by Golden Engineering Group for General Trading & Contracting at KD22.7m, though Golden Engineering Group was flagged for not providing a bid bond.
Al-Khonaini General Trading & Contracting Company, operating as Inshat Al-Khonaini, ranked fourth with a bid of KD22.7m, followed closely by Kuwait Industrial Centre Company at KD22.8m. Combined Group Contracting Company submitted a bid of KD23.8m, Al-Dar Engineering & Construction Company bid KD25.7m, and China’s Sichuan Road & Bridge Group Corporation submitted the highest active proposal at KD29m.
The second contract is for identical infrastructure and public building works at the N1 District Centre. Al-Mabanee United Company submitted the lowest bid of KD22.8m. Its closest competitor was The Contractor General Trading & Contracting Company, which submitted an offer of KD23.9m.
Al-Khonaini General Trading & Contracting Company came in third with a bid of KD24.2m, followed by Kuwait Industrial Centre Company at KD24.4m and Golden Engineering Group for General Trading & Contracting at KD24.4m. Combined Group Contracting Company placed a bid of KD26m, Al-Dar Engineering & Construction Company bid KD26.5m, and United Construction Company, known as Al-Inshat Al-Muttahida, submitted an offer of KD 30.9m. Al-Ghanim International General Trading & Contracting filed the highest bid at KD344m and was also noted for lacking a bid bond.
South Mutlaa Residential City is a large-scale planned development designed to accommodate around 400,000 residents in a modern, fully serviced urban environment. Once completed, it will offer contemporary housing alongside extensive logistical services and a wide range of public and commercial areas, including hospitals, schools and other social services.
The project also includes major infrastructure works such as approximately 150 kilometres of roads and related structures, lighting and other public works, as well as integrated systems for water distribution, rainwater collection and sewage. In addition, it will provide the civil infrastructure needed for electricity distribution, telecommunications networks and traffic control to support a well-connected, functional city.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17071938/main.gif -
Local developer secures finance for three Riyadh projects
2 June 2026
Qimam Noshoz for Real Estate Development Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Banan Real Estate Company, has signed a sharia-compliant credit facility agreement worth SR84m ($22.4m) with Riyad Bank to fund three commercial, hospitality and sports developments in the kingdom.
The financing agreement is split into two distinct tranches to align with the projects’ development timelines. The first tranche consists of SR49m with a maturity duration of seven years, while the remaining SR35m has been secured for an eight-year term.
Qimam Noshoz will utilise the capital to fund construction works for the Al-Rahmaniyah Gem and Al-Wadi District Gem projects. Both of these projects are already leased to the fitness operator Armah Sports Company. The other project is an independent hotel located within the Al-Wadi District.
The Al-Wadi development is designed as an integrated commercial complex spanning approximately 7,818.5 square metres of land, with a built-up area of about 975 square metres. It includes a men’s gym, a women’s gym and a hotel building.
The Al-Rahmaniyah project is an integrated commercial development combining fitness facilities with retail. The asset features men’s and women’s gyms operating alongside an independent commercial zone.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17071628/main.jpg -
SLB wins $385m contract for Kuwait oil research centre
2 June 2026
Schlumberger Oilfield Eastern, a unit of the US-headquartered oilfield services company SLB, has been awarded a KD118m ($385m) contract to develop an oil and gas research centre in Kuwait.
The contract was awarded by the state-owned upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), according to a report by Kuwait’s Al-Rai newspaper.
The Ahmadi Innovation Valley (AIV) project is planned as an advanced research and innovation hub equipped with specialised facilities and technical teams focused on applied research for Kuwait’s oil and gas sector.
The contract was awarded after the Higher Purchase Committee (HPC) of Kuwait’s national oil and gas company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) determined the bid to be compliant with the project’s technical and commercial requirements.
In February 2025, KOC signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with five international oilfield service companies to support the development of the AIV initiative.
These companies were:
- SLB (US)
- Baker Hughes (US)
- Weatherford (US)
- Halliburton (US)
- National Energy Services Reunited (US)
Under the preliminary agreements, each of the five companies agreed to establish a world-class research and development centre at the project site, focused on helping KOC meet challenges in the upstream sector.
KOC’s CEO Ahmad Jaber Al-Eidan had said in February 2025 that the project will enable Kuwait to keep pace with global transformations while investing in advanced technologies to ensure the sector’s sustainability and achieve operational excellence.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17063475/main.gif