Hussein welcomed the King to lay the foundation stone for the electricity grid projects linking a number of regions and to be briefed on the third stage of desalination plant project Yanbu-Madinah. He said that the King and the Crown Prince have given utmost importance to the electricity sector, noting that after the completion of most of its infrastructure, the state restructured it to work on a commercial basis while working to review and update its operational plans in addition to the completion of electricity grid projects in the Kingdom and with neighboring countries, including the GCC electricity grid expected to be completed by the end of this year. He indicated that the ministry also gives the rationalization of electric energy consumption great importance and prepares to launch next Saturday a national campaign under the King's patronage to enlighten citizens and residents of the importance of conservation of energy consumption. The minister pointed out that Saudi electricity company supported by the state has executed projects in the field of generation and distribution at a cost exceeding SR 80 billion and it is executing projects exceeding SR 93 billion and it has delivered electricity to 5.3 million subscribers. He said that the King approved inclusion of the third phase of the project of sea water desalination plant in the province of Yanbu within the projects to be implemented with the private sector participation with a production capacity of 400,000 cubic meters per day, equivalent to 88 million gallons per day, and an electric capacity of 1,600 megawatts to meet Madinah's needs of desalinated water until 1450H. The plant is expected to operate during the first quarter of 1433H, he noted. --More
