Alstom trying to catch up with ABB

Alstom, the French engineering, transports and energy group is starting to catch up with one of its main rivals, Swiss-Swedish ABB, which had a head start on the market for projects aimed at retooling Electrica’s electrical stations.

The French operator will rehabilitate four 110 kV / 20 kV stations held by Electrica, with the deal estimated to be worth some 10 million dollars, sources close to the talks told Ziarul Financiar. #leadend#Alstom won the contract for the four electrical stations following a framework-agreement, while funding is set to come in form of supplier credits.

“The contract for the Cluj Est station was signed, while the contracts for the Borsec and Barabant stations held by Electrica Transilvania Sud are to be sealed this month. The fourth station is Bucharest centre, operated by Electrica Muntenia Sud,” the quoted sources added.

The volume of orders placed by Electrica and won by international companies last year reached 30 million dollars, 28 million dollars of which account for the eight-station set awarded to ABB, while the rest accounts for the rehabilitation of the Firesti station (Galati County) by Alstom. ABB in 2001 contracted the rehabilitation works for another 6 Electrica stations, with the total order worth some 23 million dollars. Siemens might join ABB and Alstom on this market this year, as well. The three companies are also competing over the projects commissioned by Transelectrica, the national electricity carrier.

Electrica sources said talks with Siemens were in progress for the rehabilitation of yet another batch of electrical stations, with funds set to come in form of supplier credits again. The contractor supplies its own equipment for the rehabilitation of the station, which the beneficiary is to pay at a later date set in the contract, as explained by the quoted sources.