ABB funded for Saudi substation

ABB has been awarded $48m (£30m) by China’s SEPCO III Electric Power Construction Corporation to deliver a substation for a new power plant in Saudi Arabia.

The gas-insulated switchgear substation will facilitate the transmission of electricity from the 1,200MW Rabigh power plant, located 150km north of Jeddah.

This is the first IPP (Independent Power Plant) being built in the country with private-sector participation and will be developed on a build, own, operate basis.

It will supply power to Saudi Electricity Company and help meet the growing power needs of industrial and residential customers in the region.

ABB will design, supply, install and commission the 380kV substation, which includes the gas-insulated switchgear, a range of circuit breakers including the generator circuit breaker and the control, protection and telecommunication equipment. The project is scheduled for completion by 2011.

Separately, ABB has announced that it has won an order to provide electrical and automation equipment and related services for a new seamless-tube mill and pipe production plant in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The project is a joint venture between Arcelormittal and the Saudi-based Bin Jarallah Group.