ABB has won a turnkey order worth $144 million from the Abu Dhabi Transmission & Despatch Company (TRANSCO) for a major expansion of a water transmission system in Abu Dhabi to help meet the Emirate’s rising demand for drinking water. The order was booked in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The project will increase the volume of water supplied by the Shuweihat Power and Desalination Plant to the city of Abu Dhabi by increasing the capacity of two pumping stations. The project is scheduled for completion in 2011.

ABB will be responsible for the engineering, installation, testing, commissioning and overall management of the project and will provide a turnkey mechanical, electrical and automation solution for the extension and modification of the Shuweihat and Mirfa pumping stations.

“ABB’s integrated power and automation technologies will help to provide a reliable and efficient water supply to meet growing demand for water and support sustainable development in the region,” said Peter Leupp, head of ABB's Power Systems division.

The products supplied will include pumps, with related surge vessels and piping, energy-efficient drives and motors, as well as the required extension of the electrical balance of plant (eBoP). The automation systems to manage the operation and monitoring of the water pipeline will use ABB´s state-of-the-art System 800xA control platform.

The Abu Dhabi Transmission & Despatch Company (TRANSCO) is a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA), which is responsible for developing the high-voltage power and bulk water transmission network in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.