Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), together with the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP), is moving forward with a plan to power the Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali) land port using a hybrid energy system. While the specific power generation capacity for the project, known as the Development of Power Plant at Empty Quarter – Rub’ al Khali (EQ- Power Project), has not been revealed yet, the aim is to reduce the reliance on diesel fuel by incorporating renewable energy sources.
The project will be developed through a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain-Transfer (DBFOMT) contract, spanning 25 years, including both the construction and operational phases. Four bidders have been prequalified to compete for the contract, these include the Alfanar Company (Saudi Arabia) The consortium of Olayan Energy (Saudi Arabia) and Enerwhere Sustainable Energy (UAE) Siraj Power for Renewable Energy (UAE) Lamar Holding (Bahrain)
The hybrid power plant will combine conventional diesel power with renewable energy, likely solar or wind, to provide a more sustainable energy source for the remote land port. While the capacity of this plant is yet to be confirmed, hybrid projects of this nature typically range between 5 MW and 50 MW based on local energy needs.
The project’s primary goal is to meet the long-term energy demands of the Rub’ al Khali land port, situated in a challenging desert environment. Further details on the power plant’s capacity, fuel mix, contract awards, and project delivery timelines are expected to be released in upcoming project phases.
