ABB awarded $24 million

said today that it has won contracts totalling $24 million from

of Norway, for power electronics and power supply systems for two smelting plants.

ABB will supply two rectifier groups to convert alternating current into direct current, each rated at 40kA and 1150 volts DC, plus automation and control systems for upgrades to the Hydro Aluminum Årdal plant in southern Norway.

ABB’s scope of supply includes design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of the equipment, with work scheduled for completion during 2006.

Hydro Aluminum has also ordered an expansion of a 132 kV substation, two 60 kA transformer/rectifier groups and automation systems for its smelting plant in Sunndal. The latest order follows previous ABB contracts totalling about $100 million at the same site. The Sunndal work will be finalised in summer of 2006.

In addition to the equipment contract, ABB has been awarded a service and maintenance agreement at the Sunndal facility, covering all equipment and systems supplied to the new smelter SU4. The work is intended to raise uptime in the potline, where electric current is passed through a series of cells filled with raw alumina to reduce it to primary aluminium.