ABB wins $60 million WA power project

ABB recently won $60 million of orders from Rio Tinto for power projects to help the mining group increase capacity at its iron-ore mines in the Pilbara region of north-west Western Australia.

ABB will supply turnkey, high-voltage substations to enable Rio Tinto to increase annual production from 163 million tonnes of iron ore to 220 million tonnes to meet increased world demand.

The projects are for the turnkey construction of a 220 kV switching station at the Seven Mile power station and a 220/33 kV bulk supply substation at Cape Lambert. These include all design, equipment, civil and electrical works, and project management. The installations are expected to be operational by the end of 2009.

ABB will also supply power transformers, instrumentation transformers, disconnectors and a range of high- and medium-voltage switchgear.