ABB wins USD 30M power order in Iraq

ABB has won an order worth around USD 30M from Zagros Energy to build four new transmission and distribution substations in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, as part of an overall initiative to expand and strengthen the regional power grid. The order was booked in the second quarter.
Industrial growth, construction projects and overall economic development are spurring the demand for reliable power at a rate of 10 to 25% per annum. The Kurdistan power grid currently supplies around 2,750MW of electricity where more than 90% of the capacity is owned and operated by independent power companies. However, the increasing demand for electricity is resulting in frequent outages and blackouts. A capacity-expansion to approximately 4,000MW is planned for the short term; the long-term ambition is to reach 10,000MW, which would open up the possibility of exporting power to neighbouring countries.
ABB’s project scope includes the design and supply of the substations that can generate and supply an additional 600MW of power to the region. The substations are based on GIS technology, which was selected for its compact footprint, since they are to be located in the centre of the city. They will be connected with 132kV underground cables due to the lack of space for overhead lines. Circuit breakers and air-insulated switchgear, control and protection systems, capacitor banks as well as power transformers and other high-voltage equipment, will form part of the key product supplies. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014.
“These substations will go a long way towards helping this developing region meet the increasing demand for electricity,” said Oleg Aleinikov, Head of ABB’s Substations business within the company’s Power Systems division. “They will also strengthen the grid, reduce outages and improve the reliability of power supplies to consumers.”