ABB, a leading power and automation technology group, has won orders worth around USD 26 million from the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo), the national power utility, to extend and upgrade four existing transmission substations in the central region of the country. The orders were booked in the third quarter. The project, financed by the African Development Fund, is part of EEPCO's initiative to improve their electricity transmission system. This will help reduce transmission losses and provide power to more consumers across the country. The three 400/230 kilovolt (kV) and one 230/132/15 kV air-insulated switchgear substations are located in the greater Addis Ababa area.

Part of the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) is aimed at fostering sustainable development. As part of this program, it aims to increase power generation capacity from approximately 2, 000 MW (megawatts) to 8,000 MW and provide 75 percent of its population with access to electricity by 2015, almost doubling the number connected in 2010. Hydropower is a key focus area as the country uses only five percent of its abundant hydropower potential, estimated at 45,000 MW, the second-biggest in Africa.

ABB is responsible for the design, engineering, supply, erection and commissioning of the substations, including civil works. Some of the main products to be supplied include high-voltage products, switchgear and power transformers. ABB will also extend the existing substation automation, telecommunication, control and protection systems. The project is expected to be completed by 2013.

ABB is a Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, operating mainly in the power and automation technology areas. It ranked 143rd in Forbes Ranking (2010). According to the company’s website the company is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact.
Moreover, ABB is one of the largest engineering companies as well as one of the largest conglomerates in the world. ABB has operations in around 100 countries, with approximately 130,000 employees and reported global revenue of USD 31.6 billion for 2010

EthiopianReporter