Empresa de Tranmision Electrica SA, the Panamanian national transmission company, has awarded ABB and its local partner CELMEC a turnkey contract worth $23 million to strengthen the country’s transmission system and improve the interconnections with other central American countries. The project involves the supply of three high-voltage substations which will be used to reinforce the grid connection between the Esti Hydropower plant – currently under construction in the west of the country – and Panama City. ABB’s share of the contract appears to be worth $13 million. The three 230 kV substations will form part of a new 429 km transmission system that is being constructed in parallel with an existing transmission system to provide grid reinforcement for the additional 150 MW due from Esti when in enters service in November 2003. The scope of the project includes all high-voltage equipment, associated switchyard equipment and computerised protection and control equipment. Completion is scheduled for 2003.
