ABB has won an order worth around US$30m from Zagros Energy to build four new transmission and distribution substations in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, as part of an overall initiative to expand and strengthen the regional power grid. ABB’s project scope includes the design and supply of the substations and will enable an additional 600 MW of power to the region. The substations are based on GIS technology, which was selected for its compact footprint, since they are to be located in the center of the city. Two will be connected with 132 kV underground cables due to the lack of space for overhead lines. Circuit breakers and air-insulated switchgear, control and protection systems, capacitor banks as well as power transformers and other high-voltage equipment, will form part of the key product supplies. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014.
Demand for reliable power is growing at a rate of 10 to 25%/year, thanks to industrial growth, construction projects and overall economic development. Currently, the Kurdistan power grid supplies around 2,750 MW of electricity with more than 90% of the capacity owned and operated by independent power companies.