ABB receives power order to support Iraqi industrial infrastructure

Zurich, Switzerland -- - ABB, the power and automation technology group, has won an order worth around $16 million from Mass Global Investment Company for the construction of a substation and SVC Light static var compensator system that will supply electricity to a new melt shop and steel rolling mill in northern Iraq.

The steel manufacturing plant will have an annual melting capacity of 1,000,000 tons of billets. Its furnace capacity will be 120 tons and the plant will use scrap metal as input material. The rolling mill part of the plant will have an annual capacity of 650,000 tons of steel bars produced from billets.

ABB is responsible for the design, engineering, supply and commissioning of the project. The turnkey scope of supply includes 132- and 36-kilovolt kV switchgear with disconnector circuit breakers DCBs, control and protection systems, transformers and the SVC equipment. The project is scheduled for completion by 2013.

"This solution will boost transmission capacity to serve the needs of the steel plant and enhance grid reliability in the region. The solution will also improve the quality of electricity supply and efficiency of the manufacturing process," said Brice Koch, head of the Power Systems division.

ABB's ompact and energy-efficient DCB integrates the disconnecting function into the circuit breaker, thereby eliminating the need for separate conventional disconnectors. This reduces the footprint and minimizes maintenance requirements.

The station will also be equipped with an SVC Light reactive power compensation technology. SVC Light is part of ABB's FACTS flexible alternating current transmission systems portfolio that enhances the security, capacity and flexibility of power transmission and distribution systems, and improves productivity and power quality. It's highly dynamic response capability, makes it ideally suited for applications in the metallurgical industry where it helps mitigate electric arc furnace flicker, thereby improving efficiency.

ABB is the worldÂ’s leading supplier of turnkey air-insulated, gas-insulated and hybrid substations with voltage levels up to 1,100 kV. These substations facilitate the efficient and reliable transmission and distribution of electricity with minimum environmental impact, serving utility, industry and commercial customers as well as sectors like railways, urban transportation and renewables.

ABB www.abb.com specializes in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact.