Name and Location
Katanga substations upgrade project, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Project Description
The project plans to refurbish and expand three existing substations in the southern province of Katanga, in the DRC.

The project forms part of a larger grid rehabilitation programme by State-owned power utility Société Nationale d’Électricité (Snel), supported by multilateral development funding, to enhance power transmission capacity and meet the growing needs of the mining industry in the region.

Value
The project is valued at $41-million.

Duration
Commissioning of the substations is scheduled for 2012.

Client
Snel.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
ABB (design, engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of substations).

Latest Developments
Switzerland-based ABB group has been awarded a $41-million contract to refurbish and expand three substations in Katanga. The company will design, engineer, supply, install and commission three 220 kV air-insulated switchgear substations and an associated load dispatch centre.

One of the substations will also be fitted with a static var compensator unit to improve voltage stability and system performance.

Key products in this project include transformers, high- and medium-voltage equipment, disconnectors, instrument transformers, surge arresters and remote terminal units. ABB will also install substation automation systems equipped with the latest protection and control equipment.

For efficient monitoring and control of the substations, a new supervisory control and data acquisition and energy management system will be installed at the load dispatch centre, located in Likasi.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
ABB media relations, Antonio Ligi and Thomas Schmidt, tel +41 43 317 6568, fax +41 43 317 7958 or email media.relations@ch.abb.com.
Snel, tel +243 81 504 1639 or email cco@snel.cd.