Following recent news that ABB had won a $30 million contract for 275 kV and 400 kV circuit breakers from Eskom, the company has won aseparate $62 million contract for refurbishment of an HVDC converter station for the South African utility.
ABB will refurbish the HVDC Apollo converter station near Johannesburg, which receives electricity from Mozambique, to improve reliability.
“This refurbishment will significantly increase grid reliability and power flow in this key area,” said Samir Brikho, head of ABB’s Power Systems division.
The HVDC system helps to integrate hydropower produced at the Cahora Bassa dam in Mozambique with the grid in South Africa.
The project is due for completion in May 2008.
The earlier contract, which also includes medium-voltage and 400 kV surge arrestors, forms part of Eskom’s programme to strengthen the power network with a short to medium-term focus on Eastern and Western Cape, Gauteng Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal .
Under the terms of the four-year deal ABB will deliver approximately 300 circuit breakers and 530 surge arresters. It is the largest order for live tank breakers ever received by ABB.