Maaden signs deal for substations

Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) has signed a $100m contract with the Swiss/local ABB Contracting Company for two substations.

The substations will connect Maaden's phosphate and aluminium projects at Ras al-Zour to the national grid through overhead transmission lines from Jubail.

The contract covers the engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning and completion of 380kV and 115kV substations on a turnkey basis.

The substations will initially provide power for the commissioning and start-up of the phosphate plant. Later they will be used for the import or export of 600-1,100MW of power from the phosphate and aluminium projects.

Maaden is creating a new subsidiary to develop infrastructure and services to support phosphate and aluminium facilities at Ras al-Zour.