The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation signed an agreement with ABB to extend and upgrade transmission substations. The project to upgrade the existing substations in the central part of Ethiopia is expected to cost around 26 million US dollars.

ABB will be expected to enhance the automation, telecommunication, protection and control systems of the substations.
The agreement signed with EEPC mandates ABB with designing engineering, supplying, constructing and commissioning the substations. The contractor will also be responsible for all civil work.

Items that will be supplied by ABB include all major equipment including power transformers, switchgears and high-voltage products for the four air insulated switchgear substations to be found in Addis Ababa.

The project is expected to be finalized by 2013.

It is to be remembered that EEPCO recently awarded two contracts worth 14.1 million US dollars, to AECOM, a leading provider of professional technical management support services for government and commercial clients internationally.

AECOM has contracted to upgrade of existing electrical substations in Addis Ababa, north, northwestern, north eastern, southern and eastern parts of the country in addition to other activities.

The provider will be involved with system improvements including the building of 589 miles of 230-kilovolt overhead transmission lines. AECOM will also construct substation extensions, including new 230-kilovolt substations; and refurbish and upgrade existing substations.

Source: Energy Business Review