May 31^st, 2010,
Paris

AREVA’s Transmission and Distribution (T&D) division has secured an order worth approximately €11 million for Knowledge Economic City, one of Saudi Arabia’s emerging Economic Cities.

The contract is for the supply and installation of a 110/13.8 kV Gas-insulated Substation (GIS) at Knowledge Economic City in Madinah, western Saudi Arabia, which will power a newly developed luxury residential area. The order is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Knowledge Economic City is intended to usher in a significant transformation of the regional economic landscape and encourage growth in knowledge-based industries such as mathematics, engineering and science and technology.

“AREVA T&D won this contract with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Economic Cities Strategy program thanks to its commitment to providing customers with competitive and efficient solutions,” said Anil Chaudhry Executive Vice President International Sales Organisation at AREVA T&D. “This new deal positions us as a key player in the region’s transmission and distribution infrastructure and puts us in a strong position to capitalize on the emerging possibilities.”

*The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Economic Cities strategy is a project intended to place Saudi Arabia among the world’s top ten competitive investment destinations by the year 2010. Considered the most important of the six cities due to its proximity to the al-Madinah mosque, Knowledge Economic City is a leading city in high-tech economy initiatives. A network of transportation facilities is planned to connect the city to the Al-Madinah mosque and other major cities and economic centers in Saudi Arabia. It involves 30 billion Riyals ($8 billion) of aggregate investment for developing the project, 20,000 new job opportunities, an expected population of one hundred and fifty thousand people, accommodation for up to 30,000 visitors, a retail area with 1,200 shops and a residential area with nearly 30,000 residential units.