The Caterpillar dealer in Saudi Arabia, Zahid Tractor, was selected by the main contractor to supply power solutions that deliver 32 MW of prime power for the kingdom’s Red Sea Project.

Cat announced in a statement that Zahid Tractor is supplying 69 generator sets capable of running on both conventional diesel and B100 biodiesel to supply energy during the construction phase of The Red Sea Project – a nearly 28,000sqkm regenerative tourism destination under development along the country’s west coast.

Once complete, the luxury tourist destination will include a total of 16 hotels, an international airport and other commercial operations scheduled for completion in 2023.

According to Cat, the project leverages its expertise in supplying and maintaining field-proven power solutions that have enabled operation on various hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), biodiesel and blended fuel products for more than a decade.

Zahid Tractor has already delivered, installed and commissioned most of the generator sets in weather-resistant, sound-attenuated enclosures that are currently being used to support construction activities and workforce accommodations. Zahid Tractor is also addressing uptime needs through Customer Value Agreements (CVA), which include customer technician training, regular maintenance at scheduled intervals and around-the-clock, on-demand technical support.

Additionally, most of the units are equipped with Cat Connect Remote Access Monitoring (RAM), Caterpillar’s advanced data visualisation, reporting and alert offering.

Bart Myers, general manager for Caterpillar Large Electric Power, said: “The Red Sea Project is a global showcase for demonstrating how large-scale economic development projects can incorporate sustainability into their operations to help them achieve their business goals. Caterpillar and Zahid Tractor have the advanced technologies and local expertise needed to support every phase of this high-profile project and help attain its business and sustainability targets.”

Managed by The Red Sea Development Company, The Red Sea Project is one of three gigaprojects included in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. With sustainability at its core, The Red Sea Project encompasses an archipelago of more than 90 islands, desert landscapes, mountain canyons, dormant volcanoes and ancient cultural and heritage sites. It will include hotels, residential properties, leisure, commercial and entertainment amenities, supported by infrastructure that emphasizes renewable energy, water conservation and re-use, and a circular waste management system for achieving zero waste to landfill goals.