Saudi Arabia: ABB wins US$24 million Ma’aden power contract

ABB, a leading supplier of turnkey air-insulated, gas-insulated and hybrid substations has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to supply Ma'aden Aluminium Co in Saudi Arabia.

The US$24 million contract involves the design, engineering and supply of a new 380kV outdoor, gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substation at the Ras Al Khair power plant to feed a new aluminium smelter scheduled for completion in 2013.

Oleg Aleinikov, head of ABB's substations business, said the substation will enhance power capacity and improve quality and reliability of supply for critical processes and sustained productivity at the new plant.

The contract's scope includes the supply of high-voltage, outdoor gas-insulated switchgear, communication and auxiliary systems and IEC 61850-compliant substation automation, control and protection. The containerised system will be factory assembled and pre-commissioned to speed up site installation, claims ABB.

The plant in question is a multi-billion dollar affair producing 4Mtpa bauxite, 1.8Mtpa alumina and 740ktpa aluminium... not forgetting 380ktpa rolled products. The smelter and rolling mill open in 2013 and the mine and refinery come on stream in 2014.