In April 2020, Utilities Middle East reported that the developers of the Jubail 3B reverse osmosis plant had invited bids for a 380 kV substation and a 380 kV overhead line. The seawater desalination plant in the Jubail area of the Eastern Province was planned at 570,000 m³/day and was itself still being tendered. The Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) had shortlisted ten consortia. The double-circuit line was to run for about 59 km, and bids for the plant were due by 12 July 2020.
The report showed that large desalination projects in Saudi Arabia needed their own grid connection, which was being prepared while the plant itself was still out to tender.