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Saudi Electric Co. completes fuel pipeline for power plant | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Power plant at Saudi Electricity Company’s Central Operation Area, south of Riyadh, April 27, 2012. (photo by REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed)


Power plant at Saudi Electricity Company's Central Operation Area, south of Riyadh, April 27, 2012. (photo by REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed)

Power plant at Saudi Electricity Company’s Central Operation Area, south of Riyadh, April 27, 2012. (photo by REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed)

Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has completed a project to supply fuel to Al-Qassim Power Plant by a pipeline, direct from the main Aramco pipeline, ending the daily use of 300 tankers on the Riyadh-Qassim highway.

SEC executive vice-president for public affairs, Abdelsalam Al-Yamani, said the fuel pipeline cost the company USD 160 million and was completed despite some problems, adding that it will increase the plant’s productivity and increase stability in fuel supplies.

In an exclusive statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, Yamani said all generating stations working on gas, and which are owned by SEC have direct supply lines, adding that generating stations working on other fuel around the kingdom, do not have direct supply lines.

Yamani said the cost of building supply lines for other fuel was financially high, and that “the company covered the full cost of building the pipeline to Al-Qassim, and has a long-term aim to do the same for other plants.”

Yamani said he hoped there would be an urgent study into the road system in Saudi Arabia. He said: “I always ask, from a strategic point of view, why does the Saudi Ministry of Transport, in cooperation with SEC, Aramco and the traffic department, not carry out a special study into the internal transport routes? Completing the study and installing direct supply lines for fuel will have positive effects on Saudi economy, one of which is extending the lifespan of the roads by reducing the number of fuel tankers which use them, in addition to saving lives by reducing the number of accidents, and reducing pollution.”

Yamani revealed that the pipeline starts at the East-West Aramco pipeline near Al-Dawedmi and runs 240 km to Al-Qassim, running through valleys, sand dunes, and rough terrain.

He said: “The project encountered other difficulties during construction, including taking possession of private lands and crossing major roads, but the cooperation of relevant parties helped overcome those issues. The strategic plan also allows Al-Qassim to supply fuel to Ha’il power plant and northern plants, reducing the burden on Saudi Aramco.”