By securing two consecutive transmission line projects in Saudi Arabia, Hyundai E&C has demonstrated its unmatched expertise in power grid construction.
The company has announced its consecutive wins in the “380kV Transmission Line Project Connected to Solar Grid”, which was tendered by the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC). The transmission lines will be built in the Medina and Jeddah regions, with a total project cost of approximately $389 million (about 512.5 billion KRW).
The Humaiji 380kV Transmission Network Connected to Solar Grid in Medina will transmit electricity from a solar power plant in Humaiji, western Saudi Arabia, to a Medina-area substation through a 311km-long line.
In the Jeddah region, the “Kulais 380kV Transmission Network Connecting Solar Power Grid” will connect a solar power facility planned for construction in coastal Kulais with an existing transmission network near Mecca through a 180km line.
The contractor for this project was selected through a competitive bidding process among a limited number of invited companies, as designated by the project owner, the Saudi Western Electricity Company. With a history spanning over 50 years, Hyundai E&C has successfully completed 40 power transmission line projects in Saudi Arabia, forging a deep-rooted partnership with the SEC. With this latest project secured as a turnkey* contract, Hyundai E&C has once again demonstrated its outstanding business capabilities and technical expertise.
*A comprehensive execution method that covers all phases of the project, from design and procurement to construction
Since entering the Saudi construction market in 1975, the Korean builder has successfully executed large-scale projects, backed by the trust of the Saudi government and clients. Notably, in addition to numerous 380kV power transmission line projects, Hyundai E&C was the first in Saudi Arabia to construct two 500kV HVDC (high-voltage direct current) transmission lines with a total capacity of 4,000MW - the largest HVDC project in Saudi power grid history, worth approximately 1 trillion KRW. Moreover, by constructing the 525kV HVDC system and Saudi Arabia’s largest ultra-high-voltage substation, the company has been instrumental in shaping the nation’s power grid history.
To adapt to the post-oil era, Saudi Arabia launched Vision 2030 in 2016, aiming to reduce oil dependency and diversify its economy. As part of this initiative, the country is actively promoting the localization of the energy industry. Saudi Arabia is especially expanding the share of renewable energy sources in its energy mix, such as solar and wind power, as part of its energy transition strategy. This trend is expected to drive continuous investments in power grid infrastructure.
A Hyundai E&C representative said, “As connecting power grids to expanding renewable energy sources is key to reshaping the Saudi energy market, we will complete this project on schedule and further solidify our position in the renewable energy-connected power grid sector.” He added, “Leveraging our proven expertise in global construction projects, we aim to expand our K-power grid capabilities globally and support stable power supply in the carbon-neutral era.”
