ABB, the Swiss based power technology group has won an order worth about USD 17 million from Hanwha Engineering & Construction Corporation of Korea to extend an existing substation in Saudi Arabia.

The project at Yanbu, a major Red Sea port in the Al Madinah province of western Saudi Arabia, involves the integration of additional power capacity from two new generation blocks. The Yanbu steam power plant is owned and operated by the regional power and water utility, Marafiq.

ABB said that the new blocks will generate an additional 500 MW of electricity, raising the plant's total output to around 1,500 MW. The project is scheduled for completion by 2012. It will design, supply, install and commission the extension of the existing 380/115 KV substation.

Mr Oleg Aleinikov head of ABB's substation business said that "The extension of this substation will facilitate the efficient and reliable integration of additional power to help meet the growing demand for electricity from industrial and residential customers. Our extensive experience in Saudi Arabia and knowledge of the power network, combined with our technology strengths will be key advantages in the execution of this project."

(Sourced from www.arabianbusiness.com)