NEOM has achieved a significant milestone in its zero-carbon city initiative by completing key construction phases of its light rail systems and underground parking ahead of schedule.
This marks a crucial step forward in the development of the futuristic industrial hub and megadevelopment, which aims to be powered entirely by renewable energy.
The project has seen impressive daily progress with drilling rigs completing three piles per day.
The high-capacity rotary drilling rigs, supplied by Chinese heavy machinery manufacturer XCMG Machinery, played a pivotal role in this achievement. The fleet included four XR500E units, two XR600E units, and two units each of XR320D and XR400D. These rigs handled pile foundations ranging from 60-90 meters deep and 2-2.5 meters in diameter.
Notably, the XR600E is the largest tonnage drilling rig deployed so far in the construction of the world’s largest integrated development project.
The underground parking and light rail are integral to NEOM’s advanced sustainable transportation plan. Led by the Public Investment Fund, NEOM aims to establish a region in northwest Saudi Arabia that operates entirely on renewable energy, extending this sustainable approach to all transportation networks and facilities.
Since the groundbreaking in 2017, over 140,000 construction workers have been engaged on-site. In July, it was announced that various ongoing projects would receive cement worth SR104m ($27.7m) through a partnership between Saudi Arabia’s Al Jouf Cement Co. and Italy’s Webuild SpA, further supporting the ambitious development goals of NEOM.
This milestone underscores NEOM’s commitment to creating a sustainable and innovative urban environment, setting a new standard for future city developments worldwide.
