The Brazilian state owned utilities Furnas Centrais Elétricas SA and Centrais Elétricas do Norte do Brasil SA have started to awarded contracts to construct a link between the power grids of northern and southern Brazil. The link will be around 900 km long.

The grid interconnection project forms part of an infrastructure programme called “Brazil in Action”, launched by the federal government to support the country’s future economic growth.

The projected power link will enable southern Brazil to import around 1000 MW from the northern part of the country. The total project is expected to be completed in 1999.

As part of this scheme, contracts worth around $170 million have been awarded to ABB. These include 300 km of 500 kV ac transmission line which will account for around one third of the power line connecting the Imperatriz substation in the state of Maranháo and the Serra da Mesa substation in the state of Goiás.

ABB will also deliver high voltage equipment to five substations and six reactive power compensation units. The latter will be used to ensure the transmission lines operate at maximum efficiency.