The Line goes regular, so Saudi Arabia has asked some consultants to solve the obvious: if it makes sense

When years ago The heir prince Mohammed Bin Salman presented the plans of The Linethe gigantic Pharaonic glazed city that Saudi Arabia wants to build in full desert, the idea sounded for science fiction. And it’s normal. Not every day a megalopolis of 170 km long, 200 m wide and huge skyscraper, all thought to welcome millions of people without roads or cars. Over time His works started And the project advanced slowly, between huge exiles and foundations concrete.

Now its promoters have done Something peculiar: Ask several consultants for help to confirm whether the initial plans are viable or should adjust them.

What happened? That Saudi Arabia wants to review its most pharaonic, surreal and delicate project: The Linethe gigantic “corridor city” of 170 kilometers and 500 meters high and 200 m wide that the country wants to lift in the desert. Although every so often its promoters They presume the advance of the works, Bloomberg He has just revealed that the Saudi authorities have commissioned several consulting companies to carry out a strategic review of the project.

What have you asked? That value if the current plans are feasible and suggest possible changes. This is at least supported by Bloomberg, which quotes anonymous sources close to the project. They have not transcended more details or the consultants to which the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund has been directed (PIF), But the decision is interesting both for its background and for the context.

Once you have the data, those responsible for the project must assess the information and choose: Do you need to apply changes? Can you follow the work without adjustments? Bloomberg clarifies that the plan could be kept as it is and that, if remembering, any change would demand the OK of the PIF and the Saudi executive himself.

And what do promoters say? The Line is part of an even greater project, Neomwhich seeks to diversify the economy of the nation and includes other initiatives, such as Magna, Oxagon, Sindalah and Trojenaalthough The Line It is the most ambitious of all. Those responsible have removed iron on the fact that the PIF has taken advantage of external consultants and ensure that it is a normal procedure.

“As usual in large plurianual projects, strategic reviews are a common practice and are carried out several times during a large development project or infrastructure program,” claims Neom. “The Line remains a strategic priority and Neom focuses on maintaining operational continuity, improving efficiency and accelerating progress to meet the vision and general objectives of the project.”

Why does the context import? Because, like Remember the agencythe country dealt with the price drop of oil, a minor foreign investment than the foresee and budgetary deficits. Bloomberg Precise That to balance its budget Saudi Arabia needs Brent barrel to be 96 dollars, a figure that rises to 113 if the internal expense of the FIP is included in the projects of the heir prince. Both values are above around $ 71 current.

Are you lowering your expectations? The news of the project review comes only a few months after the Saudi authorities Sale your expectations On the development of The Line. At least as regards the calendar.

The initial objective was that in 2030 the Megaciudad welcomed 1.5 million residents, but now the promoters estimate that there will be only 300,000, according to Another filtration Published in April by Bloomberg. The size of the city in 2030 will also be far from the target of 170 kilometers. The finished surface would be just 2.4 km. Some sources They point out that the total cost of Neom, including The Line and other initiatives, would amount to about 1.5 billion dollars.

Is it standing? Although their promoters have had to reduce initial optimism and want to escape other voices about planning, something seems clear: The Line will not stay in an ambitious model and a handful of colorful infographics. Although there is still work ahead, the works They have been advancing On the ground, something that Saudi Arabia has been responsible for making it clear Sharing From time to time images of excavators, operators and land movements.

Three months ago Giles Pendleton, operations director, public On LinkedIn a series of Aerial photos in which the progress of what several Neom projects seems, including infrastructure of the future corridor city of 170 km. “Neom is real,” defends the manager. On the same dates the embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Spain also disclosed images Of the works in one of the tunnels that will circulate trains and load between The Line and Oxagon.

Images | Neom

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