ABB wins US$ 340-million order for China high-voltage power link

Zurich, 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 – China’s 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. ABB’s 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, China’s 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