ABB has won an order worth $43 million from South African electric utility Eskom to supply equipment for a new thermal power plant being built in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
The new Kusile coal-fired plant comprises six supercritical combustion units with a total generating capacity of 4,800 MW.
Eskom had previously put the placement of outstanding Kusile contracts on hold due to funding constraints; however a loan of R15 billion from the Development Bank of Southern Africa together with an increase in government guarantees for Eskom loans and the government’s R20 billion equity injection have enabled awarding of the remaining contracts to go ahead.
Eskom has committed to complete its major projects, namely Medupi, Kusile and the Ingula pumped storage scheme.
ABB will design, engineer, supply, install and commission the equipment. Key products include the ZS1 AIS indoor switchgear for primary distribution, the latest Relion 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.
Commenting, Bernhard Jucker, head of ABB’s Power Products division, said: “These state-of-the-art products offer maximum control and protection, enabling an efficient and reliable supply of electricity. We support Eskom in its efforts to improve power supplies and meet the growing need for electricity in the country.”
Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, ABB operates in around 100 countries and employs about 117,000 people.
