ABB wins $400m power order in Kuwait

ABB has won an order worth around $400m from Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity and Water for three new substations to improve the country's electrical transmission grid. 

The company will design, supply, install, test and commission the substations, which will increase transmission voltage from 300 kilovolt (kV) to 400 kV. The higher voltage will help strengthen the grid's reliability and increase its capacity to meet rising demand for electricity.

Key components include gas-insulated switchgear, 12 large power transformers (400 kV, 765 MVA), low-voltage auxiliary systems and network protection and control equipment. The project is scheduled for completion in 2011.

"Our technologies and global presence enable the expansion and strengthening of power infrastructure around the world," said Peter Leupp, head of ABB's power systems division. "These substations will reinforce the transmission network and boost capacity in Kuwait, to help meet the region's growing demand, increase energy efficiency and improve the quality of power."

Increasing the transmission voltage will enable Kuwait's grid to be connected to neighbouring GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, already operating at 400 kV. The first substation at this voltage in Kuwait was also built by ABB as part of the GCC initiative to interlink Gulf states.