Siemens clinches $868m Qatar substations order

Siemens said it has secured its biggest ever contract worth €790 million ($868 million) in Qatar from the state-owned utility Qatar General Water & Electricity Corporation (Kahramaa) for the expansion of the country’s power transmission network. As part of the deal, Siemens will deliver 35 turnkey super and primary substations for Phase 13 of the Qatar Power Transmission System Expansion project. This marks a significant milestone for Siemens, which has maintained involvement in every stage of the project since Phase Four. The work will be completed in two years’ time. Siemens will be responsible for the design, engineering, supply, installation, and commissioning of the substations for the 400-kilovolt (kV), 220-kV, 132-kV, 66-kV, and 11-kV voltage levels, including gas-insulated switchgear, transformers, and control and protection equipment. On the big win, Siemens Energy Management Division CEO Ralf Christian said: "Since the upgrade programme started in 2005, Siemens has installed more than 120 substations and approximately 1,500 km of high-voltage cable." "With this new order intake, our completed and under-execution projects with Kahramaa have hit nearly €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion), he added. As part of this contract, an existing ‘super substation’ – one that allows multiple voltage settings – in Doha will be upgraded with new 400-kV/220-kV gas-insulated switchgear and associated equipment, before connecting to the grid, said Siemens in its statement. Another substation will be used to meet rising demand for electricity in Al Jahhaniya and surrounding area, including temporary power feed to Rayyan Stadium, one of the venues for the upcoming world soccer championship. Substations will also feed power to steel, oil and gas and petrochemical facilities in Mesaieed industrial area, as well as Al Sadd area in Doha. Overall, the substations are required to supply power for ongoing infrastructure development projects, schools, hospitals, industries and residential complexes in and around Doha, Qatar’s capital city, it stated. Adrian Wood, CEO of Siemens in Qatar, said: "We are delighted to build on a trusting relationship with Kahramaa, as we embark on yet another important phase to upgrade the power network." "Siemens is committed to supplying reliable and innovative products to this highly ambitious project that will meet growing demand for electricity in a fast-developing country," noted Wood. In addition to Phase 13, Siemens has also received a second order from the Qatari utility firm to supply and install more than 2,170 medium-voltage switchgear boards. The 8DJH switchgear will be used as ring main units (RMU) in the 11-kV distribution network. RMUs protect, for example, transformers connected to the grid against overloads and short-circuits, ensuring a reliable power supply, said the company statement. The switchgear will be manufactured in Frankfurt, with the first units expected to go into operation by end-2017. The order is valued at roughly €27 million ($30 million),