OREANDA-NEWS. September 20, 2012. Toshiba Corporation (Tokyo: 6502) today announced it has won an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the Al-Zour North Substation located in Al-Zour, Kuwait. The company will start delivery of equipment in June 2013 and the substation is expected to start operation in December the same year.

The scope of EPC contract covers the supply and installation of 400kV gas insulated switchgear (GIS) and 750MVA transformers. The contract, which has a total value of approximately USD 140 million, was awarded to Toshiba after comprehensive evaluation of the company's advanced technology, which has a short circuit current rating of 80kA, and its extensive experience in the supply of transmission and distribution equipment in the Middle East.

In Kuwait, electricity demand continues to increase at a pace of 3-5% per year, reflecting economic growth and population increases. Peak demand has increased noticeably in recent summers and the Kuwaiti government is taking steps to secure a stable supply.

Kuwait plans to double generating capacity by constructing five thermal power plants by 2015, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also plans to build a cross-border wide area power distribution grid to help meet the increasing demand in Kuwait. The Al-Zour North substation will be a key substation for the grid.

Toshiba is focusing its transmission and distribution business on emerging economies in the Middle East and Southeast Asia and on Brazil, India and Russia, all of which are expected to see demand growth. Going forward, Toshiba will expand its business globally by offering reliable, high performance equipment.