Over the past couple of years, Saudi Arabia has been working towards realizing Vision 2030, a national plan that aims to facilitate the diversification of the Kingdom’s economy and move it away from its current reliance on fossil fuels while developing various key sectors. As part of its efforts, Saudi Arabia has been focusing on growing its energy and technology sector into a more sustainable and efficient one, which has resulted in mega projects such as its most recent King Salman Energy Park (SPARK).
Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman inaugurated SPARK earlier this week at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), and work to complete the project’s first phase is currently underway (set to be completed by 2021). SPARK is being developed by Saudi Aramco and is set to become a global destination for energy industry investors from the water, power, petrochemical, and wastewater sectors. According to Arab News, the new energy city mega-project has already “received authorization to embark on the initiative in the summer, and is operated, managed and maintained in partnership with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON).”
Projections for the 50-square-kilometer project have so far been impressive, pointing to the creation of more than 100,000 jobs if all goes according to plan. Located in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia between Damman and Al-Ahsa, SPARK has been designed to offer specialized training centers, and to localize more than 300 new industrial services and facilities.
Speaking on the occasion of the project launch, Saudi Aramco President and CEO, Amin Nasser, explained that the “King Salman Energy Park will spur a new era of growth for one of the Kingdom’s already thriving sectors. What’s more, it will serve as a central gateway to the region’s economies since Aramco is at the heart of the global oil and gas industry.”
