Jan 14, 2008
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 14 JAN 08: Ma'aden yesterday signed a USD 100 million (SAR 375 million) contract with ABB Contracting Co Ltd for two electrical substations that will connect its phosphate and aluminium mega-projects at Ras Az Zawr to the national grid.
At the formal signing ceremony in Riyadh, Ma'aden President & CEO, Dr Abdallah Dabbagh said, “The signing of this contract marks the first major milestone for our infrastructure works at Ras Az Zawr. The high capacity and quality of infrastructure there will be critical to the efficiency of our phosphate and aluminium operations. We welcome ABB as our partner in delivering such important facilities to Ma'aden.”
ABB Contracting Co. Chairman, Mr Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Hobaib, said, “We are happy to be part of this prestigious project and look forward to a successful and long business relationship with Ma'aden.“
The contract is for the engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning and completion of 380 kV and 115 kV gas insulated switchgear (GIS) substations at Ras Az Zawr and certain related works, on a turnkey basis.
Ma'aden is creating a separate wholly owned subsidiary to develop infrastructure and services at Ras Az Zawr in order to support co-located phosphate and aluminium facilities. Site preparation, access and internal road construction is already underway as well as planning for traffic management, security and emergency response on the 77 sq km site.
The substations will initially provide power for the commissioning and start-up of the phosphate operation and will subsequently be used for the import, or export, of approximately 600 to 1,100 MW of power from both the phosphate and aluminium projects at Ras Az Zawr.
The substations will connect the aluminium and phosphate projects to the national power grid via overhead transmission lines from Jubail.
About Ma’aden
Ma'aden was established as a Saudi Arabian joint stock company in March 1997 to facilitate the development of Saudi Arabia’s non-petroleum mineral resources and to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from the petroleum and petrochemical sectors. Ma’aden is engaged in the development, advancement and improvement of all aspects of the mineral industry, mineral products and by-products and related industries in Saudi Arabia. In July 2008 Ma’aden offered 50% of the company’s shares for subscription in a successful SR 9.25 billion IPO. Ma’aden has progressed towards realizing its vision of building a world class mineral enterprise and its mission of being a profitable, publicly owned, international mining company, while maintaining the utmost concern for human resources, health and safety, environmental and social issues.
About ABB Contracting - www.abb.com.sa
ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impacts. The ABB group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 110,000 people.
ABB Contracting Co. Ltd. is specialized in execution of turn-key electro mechanical projects. A strong base of executed high voltage substations and industrial projects makes ABB Contracting Co. Ltd. one of the leaders in its field in the Saudi Arabian market. It has installed more than 100 substations, ranging from 1 kV to 380 kV, throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
For further information please contact:
Aqeel Alonazi
Ma'aden Corporate Communications Department
T: +966 55 3063813
E: alonaziam@maaden.com.sa