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 ABB wins US$ 340-million order for China high-voltage power link Countrys largest 
                            power link to connect central and eastern ChinaZurich, Switzerland, April 12, 1999 ABB has 
                            won an order to supply two converter stations for 
                            a 3,000-megawatt high-voltage direct current (HVDC) 
                            power link to transmit electricity from the Three 
                            Gorges hydropower plant in central China to the coastal 
                            city of Shanghai and surrounding area. The order is 
                            valued at more than US$ 340 million and was awarded 
                            by the state-owned China Power Grid Development Co. 
                            The 850-kilometer power link  Chinas largest 
                            - is scheduled to come into commercial operation in 
                            2003.
 The Three Gorges link will more than triple the amount 
                            of power currently delivered from central China to 
                            the coast, from 1,200 megawatts (MW) to 4,200 MW. 
                            ABBs HVDC technology promotes more efficient 
                            use of energy resources by transmitting large power 
                            loads over long distances with low losses. The new 
                            link will help meet the growing demand for power in 
                            fast developing Shanghai, Chinas leading industrial 
                            and commercial center.
 
 One converter station will be located at Longquan, 
                            approximately 50 kilometers from the Three Gorges 
                            power plant, and the other in the city of Changzhou, 
                            approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Shanghai. 
                            The order includes converter valves, converter transformers, 
                            switchyard and control equipment. ABB also arranged 
                            a group of international banks to finance the project.
 
 In August, 1997, ABB was awarded a US$ 250-million 
                            contract to supply eight hydro generators to the Three 
                            Gorges project.
 
 ABB ( http://www.abb.com 
                            ) is a global engineering and technology company 
                            serving customers in power generation, transmission, 
                            and distribution; automation; oil, gas, and petrochemicals; 
                            industrial products and contracting; and financial 
                            services. ABB employs about 200,000 people in more 
                            than 100 countries. (End)
 For more information contact John 
                            Fox ABB Corporate Communications, Zurich Tel: +41 1 317 
                            73 71 Fax: +41 1 317 79 58
 
 Paul 
                            Chan
 ABB China, Beijing Tel: +86 10 6595 6688 Fax: +86 
                            10 6500 3117
 Original 
                            Press Release, at ABB.com
   
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