ABB Wins $140-million Smelter Project in Qatar


Power and automation systems will support world's largest aluminum plant

Zurich, Switzerland, August 20, 2007 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has been awarded a $140-million contract by Qatalum, a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Norway's Hydro Aluminum. The partners are constructing what will be the world's largest aluminum plant built in one phase in Qatar.

ABB will supply a high-voltage power rectifier station consisting of ten high-current rectifiers rated at 1750 volts, ten regulating and rectifier transformers, System 800xA control and protection systems, two SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems, two direct-current measuring systems and various auxiliary systems. ABB will also provide high-voltage cabling, engineering, training, installation and commissioning.

"This milestone project reflects our extensive expertise and experience in the primary metals and minerals industries," said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB's Process Automation division. "By combining standard ABB products and systems with industry-specific knowledge, we have established a strong track record for meeting customers' needs in terms of productivity, reliability and energy efficiency."

The greenfield Qatalum project will include an aluminum smelter with a capacity of 585,000 tons per year, and a dedicated 1350-MW power plant station to ensure a stable supply of electricity. The smelter will be located in the Mesaieed Industrial City, about 40 kilometers south of the Qatar's capital, Doha, near a natural bay on the southern coast of the Qatar Eastern Peninsula.

ABB is a world leader in advanced solutions for aluminum smelting, and has equipped an estimated 80 percent of the smelting facilities in the Gulf region. Deliveries to the Qatalum site will begin in the fourth quarter of 2008, with metal production set to commence in late 2009. The order was booked at the end of the second quarter 2007.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 111,000 people.

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