ABB in southern Africa (part of the global technology group, ABB) has been awarded an order valued at approximately R15m by the Botswana Power Corporation to supply substations to the remote areas of the country. The project is part of the 'The 70 Villages Project' whose aim is to fast-track rural development in Botswana.
The contract involves the South African operation supplying two 66/11 kV substations in Mabutsane and Kang and the refurbishment of an existing 132/33/6,5 kV substation in Jwaneng. The Botswana operation will supply 108 km of 33 kV overhead lines and a 33/11kV substation at the end.
Carlos Poñe, CEO, ABB in southern Africa, says: "ABB won the project because we understand that in a rapidly-changing marketplace, success depends on being fast and flexible. Our strategy of combining local and global skills, with emphasis on transferring them to the local communities, has ensured that we secure projects such as these. This project will further strengthen our strong market position in Botswana's power industry, where we have successfully completed a number of projects."
Other ABB companies that will be involved in the project are ABB Transmission & Distribution, ABB Botswana, ABB Karebo Manufacturers for the supply of high voltage switchgear and Desta Power Matla, a subsidiary of ABB Powertech Transformers, will supply transformers. The project is scheduled for completion in mid-2001.
The Mabutsane substation will provide an 11 kV supply point for local supplies within the village and a separate 11 kV supply to Khakhea village. It will also feature a 66 kV line feeder to Kang thereby providing a sectionalising point on the 66 kV supply from Jwaneng through to Kang. The new Kang substation will feature single 66/33 kV and 66/11 kV step-down transformers to provide supply points for the 33 kV supply to Tswane and local loads distributed at 11 kV and station auxiliaries.
The extension of Jwaneng comprises the installation of two new 10 MVA 132/66 kV step-down power transformer bays and one 66 kV line feeder bay to give supplies to a new 66 kV line to be constructed to Mabutsane and continuing to Kang.
ABB Southern Africa
ABB in southern Africa employs 3500 people and has operations in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The group delivers technology solutions to electrical utilities and industrial customers throughout the region.
ABB International
The ABB Group serves customers in power transmission and distribution; automation; oil, gas, and petrochemicals; building technologies; and in financial services. With novel IT applications, tailored software solutions, growing e-business and a fast-expanding knowledge and service base, ABB is building links to the new economy.
The ABB Group employs about 165 000 people in more than 100 countries.
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