30 November 2010
The South African subsidiary of multinational power and automation group ABB has won an order worth US$43-million (about R307-million) from state power utility Eskom to supply equipment for the Kusile power station being built in Mpumalanga.
ABB will supply medium-voltage switchgear as well as protection and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) equipment for the thermal power plant, which comprises six supercritical combustion units with a total generating capacity of 4 800 megawatts.
State-of-the-art products
The company will design, engineer, supply, install and commission the equipment, including indoor switchgear for primary distribution, the latest range of control products and the REA range of protection relays. ABB will also supply a Micro-SCADA automation solution to optimise control and ensure reliable operation.
“These state-of-the-art products offer maximum control and protection, enabling an efficient and reliable supply of electricity,” ABB Power Products division head Bernhard Jucker said in a statement this week.
“We support Eskom in its efforts to improve power supplies and meet the growing need for electricity in the country.”
Enhancing safety
According to ABB, the REA range is an extremely fast and reliable arc protection system that combines a unique sensor technique with instantaneous and reliable fault detection, reducing the risk of network damage, enhancing safety and enabling the smooth restoration of power in the event of a disruption.
“With ABB’s tailor-made solutions, we are well positioned to contribute cutting-edge technology to South Africa’s major energy challenges,” said ABB South Africa CEO Carlos Pone.
“The Kusile project will generate cost effective electricity into the South African grid and will to help meet the growing demand for electricity in South Africa.”
In September this year, ABB also won a US$23-million (about R163-million) order from Eskom to provide a plant solution for the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, currently under construction on the border of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
SAinfo reporter
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