RIYADH: Two major electrical substations were launched at the Diriyah megaproject in Riyadh on Monday.

The substations will be operated by the Saudi Electricity Company and will speed up the development of projects in the historical area of Diriyah as well as nearby Wadi Safar.

“Today is very special to us,” Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO of Diriyah Company, told Arab News, before underlining the importance of developing infrastructure to be able to complete projects in time for Riyadh Expo 2030.

Inzerillo further elaborated on how the project requires sustainable development because it will be serving a large number of people.

The housing project “will cater to 100,000 people who will live, work, recreate, and pray with us every day,” the CEO said. “So, you need all-new, smart-city technology that the Kingdom is leading on.”

The larger substation will support the first phase of Diriyah’s development and will be implemented through Saudi Services for Electro Mechanic Works.

The second substation, developed by the Saudi Electricity Company through Maetel contracting company, will be one of the main power sources for Wadi Safar.

This will result in a combination of the area’s natural beauty with modern infrastructure, including hospitality assets and sports facilities such as the Royal Diriyah Equestrian and Polo Club, and Wadi Safar golf course.

Also at the event, the acting CEO of SEC, Khalid Al-Ghamdi, expressed his excitement for this significant event and milestone.

“The completion of the bulk substation and the primary substation marks a new era for Diriyah, one that combines advanced infrastructure with our shared vision of creating a sustainable, world-class city,” Al-Ghamdi said.

“We are honored to work with Diriyah Company to bring power solutions that are both reliable and in harmony with Diriyah’s architectural heritage,” he added.

Diriyah is one of Saudi Arabia’s main megaprojects, supported by the Public Investment Fund. The project will eventually have homes for 100,000 people and is aiming to host millions of visits per year by 2030.

The Diriyah project alone contributes $18.6 billion directly to Saudi Arabia’s GDP and will create 178,000 job opportunities, according to the Diriyah Company.

The two substations were designed in line with Diriyah’s traditional Najdi architectural style to preserve the area’s cultural identity.

While the city is a major part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, it also has historical importance because Diryiah is the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.