The finance and transport ministries have signed a contract in Riyadh with the Saudi Electricity Company worth SR1.8 billion to build plants to power the Haramain Express Train project. The contract was signed by Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Aziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the Board of the General Investment Fund and Dr. Jubara Bin Eid Al-Suraisri, Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Board of Saudi Railway Organization (SRO). Al-Suraisri said the contract will see electricity conducted to the stations at a total power of 600 megawatts, in addition to the power required for operating passenger stations at King Abdullah Economic City and Madina. He said the ministry's attention is now concentrated on completing the train project as soon as possible, as has been directed by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Abdul Aziz Bin Muhammad Al-Huqail, President of SRO, said the contract involves the electricity company building six central stations at the proposed sites. The contract states that power supplies at the project's different locations have to be available by the end of 2012.
