ABB Awarded Upgrading Contract From DUBAL

ABB has been awarded a 53- million-dollar contract from Dubai Aluminum Company Limited (DUBAL) to upgrade electrical and automation systems at the latter's Dubai smelter complex. DUBAL operates one of the largest single-site aluminum smelters in the world, having produced about 890,000 tonnes of aluminum last year. The company is one of the largest non-oil contributors to Dubai's economy. According to the contract, ABB will replace 16 high-voltage regulating transformers (rectiformers, used to convert alternating current to direct current) with five larger units, rated at 86 megavolt amperes, to increase capacity and combine two smelting potlines. ABB will be engaged in designing, installation and commissioning services for the project, and dismantling the current equipment. The delivery includes control and protection systems, 250-kiloampere field-oriented measuring equipment, and upgrades to existing high-voltage cables, low-voltage and control cables, fire detection and fire-fighting equipment. Commissioning of the new units is scheduled for completion in late 2009.