Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) has secured a landmark contract worth KRW 1 trillion ($725 million) to construct an ultra-high voltage transmission network in Saudi Arabia.
The contract, signed at the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) headquarters in Riyadh, is the largest overseas transmission line project ever won by a South Korean construction firm.
Under the project, Hyundai E&C will build a 369-kilometer section of the Riyadh-Kudmi 500kV ultra-high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line, connecting the PP14 power plant in Riyadh to the Kudmi region on Saudi Arabia’s southern coast.
The Riyadh-Kudmi Transmission Line Project covers a total of 1,089 kilometers and aims to strengthen the power grid and facilitate the efficient transmission of electricity over long distances. The project is scheduled for completion by January 2027.
The HVDC technology to be implemented by Hyundai E&C is renowned for its low energy loss, high stability, and efficiency, making it ideal for long-distance power transmission. The line, which will be the first two-line HVDC transmission structure introduced in Saudi Arabia, will have a power capacity of up to 4,000 megawatts, and will support the country’s expanding power needs.
The project comes as a follow-up to a strategic partnership formed between Hyundai E&C and the Saudi Ministry of Energy at the recent Energy Localization Forum.
The forum highlighted collaborations between Saudi Arabia and international firms to boost local infrastructure in power, renewable energy, and supply networks. Hyundai E&C’s new contract aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to upgrade its energy infrastructure and support the renewable energy sector.
Hyundai E&C said it was committed to successfully executing the project with cutting-edge ultra-high voltage transmission lines, which are essential for the renewable energy grid industry.
Hyundai E&C has a longstanding presence in Saudi Arabia, having entered the market in 1975. To date, the company has completed 35 transmission line projects across the Kingdom, contributing approximately 20,000 kilometers to Saudi Arabia’s power infrastructure.
The company is also looking to expand into other regions, including Australia, with a focus on renewable power grid projects.
