Riyadh: The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has significantly increased the electrical grid capacity in the holy sites for the Hajj season 1446 AH by over 75 percent compared to last year, investing more than SAR3 billion in development projects. This enhancement, guided by government directives and Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, stems from a thorough review of past Hajj seasons and anticipated needs.
According to Saudi Press Agency, SEC stated that projects were implemented early, ensuring full load connectivity for network reliability. The operations and management center in the holy sites is now equipped with advanced, AI-supported technical applications for comprehensive system monitoring, with equipment connected via fiber optics for rapid information flow and timely decision-making by trained national cadres.
SEC has also developed a robust emergency plan, deploying over 2,200 engineers, technicians, and specialists across 57 strategically located centers to ensure a response time of under five minutes anywhere in the holy sites.
Preparations are continuous, beginning immediately after each Hajj season, and involve inspections of over 50,000 electrical equipment units. Two comprehensive system tests are scheduled for Dhu al-Qi'dah 24 and 29, with strict oversight from the Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority to ensure compliance.
SEC anticipates a 20 to 30 percent increase in loads this year, following last Hajj's record of 454 megawatts.