Government authorities are taking action against people who have imported air-conditioners that do not produce sufficient cooling, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) said. Having noticed that these units recently entered the Saudi market, it is working to fine traders who imported them, said Ali Al-Barrak, CEO of the Saudi Electricity Company. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Saudi Arabian Standards Organization, electricity sector and Customs Department are all working to prevent import of the air-conditioners and other low-quality electrical appliances, he added. Al-Barrak stressed the necessity to fine anyone who imports these devices. The need for responsible energy use is such that fines should also be levied against those who construct buildings without thermal insulation, particularly owners of investment buildings and apartments, he said. Al-Barrak said recurring power outages are caused by excavation work on sanitary-drainage projects, leveling work and weather conditions. Solar energy has long-term potential, he said, but the cost is high, estimated to be five times the cost of ongoing electricity production. The SEC is working to ensure it has an effective labor force and to provide employment opportunities, Al-Barrak noted. The SEC has a strong training program, conducted through institutes in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Abha, that is attracting secondary school graduates, along with a program for 400 young men within universities, with scientific specializations; those students study for two years, with English as the language of instruction, and they are guaranteed to receive jobs at the end of the program, Al
