ABB , the power and automation technology group, is undertaking a $13.5m substation installation for Rio Tinto. The Hope Downs substation will provide power to a new iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The project is for the complete turn-key supply of a 220/33 kV substation and 33kV switchgear. This includes primary and secondary design, supply of all primary and secondary products, civil construction, electrical construction and commissioning of the substation as a complete ABB integrated solution.
As this is a full turn-key solution, ABB will supply all the HV products as well as all protection and control systems. The 220 kV circuit breakers are supplied from Sweden and the 220/33 kV 48 MVA transformer is supplied from the factory in Bangkok Thailand, says Rory McDonald, substations business unit manager.
ABB will be responsible for all commissioning, which includes both Factory Acceptance Testing of panels in the factory and the full primary and secondary commissioning on site after all equipment has been installed.
This is the fifth substation installation that ABB has been involved with in the region. The other substation projects include the Yandicoogina rebuild, Paraburdoo, Millstream and Juna Downs substations. The Hope Downs substation will be operational in September 2007.