ABB Wins $19 Million Automation Lifecycle Support Contract in South Pacific
Three-year contract for Vale Inco's New Caledonia nickel and cobalt plant
Houston, TX, July 16, 2009 - ABB, the world's leading power and automation technology group announced it was recently awarded a three-year service contract worth approximately $19 million, by Vale Inco Nouvelle Caledonie. Under this contract, awarded during the second quarter of 2009, ABB will provide onsite process control systems service and maintenance at Vale Inco's process plant located on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia, 1200 kilometers east of Australia.
Vale Inco Nouvelle Caledonie extracts and processes the nickel and cobalt deposit in the Goro plateau, which is one of the largest in the world. The plant is expected to produce 60,000 metric tons of nickel oxide and 4,300 - 5,000 metric tons of cobalt carbonate annually.
The service contract forms part of an overall solution package offered to Vale Inco, and will include the ongoing optimization and maintenance of the plant's installed System 800xA process automation system. ABB's award-winning System 800xA extends the scope of traditional control systems to include all automation functions in a single operation and engineering environment, which enables plants to perform smarter and better at substantial cost savings.
"ABB has the global resources, technology and mining industry knowledge to help Vale Inco achieve their growth objectives, with comprehensive support services and forward evolution strategies that protect their existing automation system investments," said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB's Process Automation division. "This important contract underscores how our control systems lifecycle support commitment and dedicated resources will help one of largest mineral operations in the South Pacific region meet the challenges of today's economic environment, and succeed well into the future."
The service contract demonstrates ABB's lifecycle support capabilities and continued commitment to Vale, and the Vale Inco Goro Nickel project. ABB has secured a number of significant equipment orders for the project since 2005, including the supply and engineering of the process control system. ABB also completed the design, engineering and supply of low voltage switchgear, low voltage variable speed drives, turbine protection and control panels, portable switch-rooms and the remote fit-out and cabling of the switch-rooms, including transformers and medium voltage drives.
To date, the combined value of orders awarded to ABB from Vale Inco Nouvelle Caledonie is just under $90 million.
ABB's Process Automation division delivers integrated solutions for control, plant optimization, and industry-specific application knowledge and services to help process industry customers worldwide meet their critical business needs in the areas of operational profitability, capital productivity, risk management and global responsibility. These industries include oil and gas, power, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, metals, minerals, marine and turbocharging.
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 120,000 people.
For more information please contact:
Laura Patrick
Office: +1.585.273.7246
Mobile: +1.585.733.4958
email:laura.m.patrick@us.abb.com
