Saudi Electricity Company Launches 1,179-MW Rabigh Power Plant

The Saudi Electricity Company developed the Rabigh Reinforcement Combined Cycle Power Plant in Makkah Province to address critical supply constraints along the Makkah-Jeddah corridor. The 1,179-MW facility was delivered by a consortium consisting of Siemens Energy and Elsewedy Electric Power Systems Projects under an EPC contract valued at approximately SAR 5.33 billion ($1.4 billion).

To meet an accelerated timeline, the project achieved first fire in July 2025, only 14 months after the contract award. This speed was enabled by the Saudi Electricity Company implementing interim contractual mechanisms and advanced payments, while Siemens Energy expanded its role from an equipment manufacturer to a full EPC partner. Despite Red Sea shipping disruptions that required a steam turbine generator to be rerouted through Dammam Port, the project brought 700 MW of simple cycle capacity online by October 2025.

The Ministry of Energy designated the reinforcement of this region as a national priority. The Saudi Power Procurement Company will act as the principal buyer of the electricity under a 25-year Energy Conversion Agreement. Full combined cycle completion for the facility is projected for May 2027.