2012-05-02 - New power infrastructure to help reinforce the transmission and distribution grid
Johannesburg, South Africa, April 16, 2012 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won two orders worth about $11 million from The Kenya Power & Lighting Co. (Ltd) (KPLC), the national power utility, to supply two new air-insulated switchgear (AIS) substations and extend two existing ones in the North and South West region of the country.
The orders comprise of the turnkey construction of two new 132/33kV substations at Kitale and Awendo as well as of two 132kV switchgear bays for the existing Eldoret and Kisii substations. As part of the contract, ABB is responsible for the design, engineering, supply and installation of the substations and extensions, including civil works. Some of the main products to be supplied include high- and medium-voltage products, switchgear and power transformers as well as substation automation, control and protection systems.
“Access to electricity is a key factor for economic development. The substations and extensions will enhance grid capacity and efficiency, to bring much needed electricity to consumers,” said Carlos Pone, Chief Executive Officer, ABB in South Africa. "Our comprehensive experience, advanced technologies and established footprint with manufacturing facilities in South Africa enable us to support large infrastructure development projects such as this.”
The projects form part of the Kenya Electricity Expansion Project (KEEP) which aims at providing access to electricity for the country’s urban, peri-urban and rural population, and at enabling the expansion of geothermal power generation as part of its green energy development strategy. Kenya is accelerating infrastructure development to strengthen socio-economic growth.
ABB is the world’s leading supplier of turnkey air-insulated, gas-insulated and hybrid substations with voltage levels up to 1,100 kV. These substations facilitate the efficient and reliable transmission and distribution of electricity with minimum environmental impact, serving utility, industry and commercial customers as well as sectors like railways, urban transportation and renewables.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.
For help with any technical terms in this release, please go to: www.abb.com/glossary
For more information please contact:
Marketing & Communications
ABB Power Products & Power Systems
Shivani Chetram
Tel: +27 10 202 5090
Fax: +27 11 579 8178
shivani.chetram@za.abb.com