ABB wins US$ 80-million power grid order in UK

Zurich, Switzerland, September 7, 1998 - ABB, the international electrical engineering company, has been awarded a turnkey contract to build a new power grid linking the electricity supply networks of Guernsey and Jersey Islands in the English Channel to the European Grid via France. The contract, which is valued at US$ 80 million was awarded by the newly-formed Channel Islands Electricity Grid Company Ltd which is a 50/50 joint venture between Jersey Electricity Company Ltd and the States of Guernsey Electricity Board. The 135-megawatt link is due for completion in the summer of 2000.

Under the terms of the contract, ABB will lay 65 kilometers of submarine cables between the two islands and the French coast as well as 70 kilometers of underground cables across the islands. The submarine cable will be based on ABB’s cross-linked polyethylene insulation technology. ABB will also supply two new 90-kilovolt substations and upgrade three existing ones. ABB will provide associated protection and control equipment and install fiber optic cable links for data and telecommunications requirements.
The ABB Group serves customers worldwide in power generation, transmission, and distribution; automation; oil, gas, and petrochemicals; industrial products and contracting; financial services; and rail transportation. The Group reported orders in 1997 of $35 billion and employs about 220,000 people. (End)

For more information contact Mr. John Fox
ABB Corporate Communications, Zurich Tel: +41 1 317 7371 Fax: +41 1 317 7958

Ms. Karen Wilds
ABB UK, London Tel: +44 171 753 2016 Fax: +44 171 753 2023

Original Press Release at ABB.com