Rising Demand for High-Voltage Cables Prompts Formation of New Company in Dubai

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Dubai Cable Company (Private) Limited (Ducab) (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) has established a new entity, Ducab-HV, specifically to manufacture cables with a capacity of 400 kilovolts (kV) at its factory at Jebel Ali, near Dubai. The move was prompted by the increase in demand for electricity by a rising population.

Ducab is jointly owned by the governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and has formed a joint venture with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) to form the new company. The new plant is being set up over an area of 22,000 square meters adjacent to the existing facilities of Ducab in Jebel Ali. Construction has already commenced, and the factory is expected to be completed by late 2010.

Ducab was established in 1979 and is recognized as the leading cable manufacturer and supplier in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The company currently produces low-, medium- and high-voltage power cables, sheathed and insulated cables, and cables for equipment control. The Ducab Powerplus range of cables can handle up to 33 kV. In addition, the Ducab Smokemaster range is specifically designed for fume and low smoke cables while Ducab Connect supplies cable connectors and accessories.

The new company and manufacturing plant represents the first joint venture between DEWA, ADWEA and Ducab. The greenfield facility is aimed at reducing the need for imported cables in the GCC and will be capable of producing 30,000 tons per year of cable ranging in capacity from 66 kV to 400 kV.

In another move to boost the power capacity in the Dubai region, DEWA recently awarded four contracts worth a total of $417 million to supply, install, test and commission 13 new electrical substations. The largest of the contracts, valued at $214 million, has been awarded to the Power Products division of the Emirates Trading Company (Dubai). It covers a total of six new substations, each with a capacity of 132/11 kV, in Al Wasel, New Hatta, Barsha Residential, Consulates/Al Hamriya and Al Jadaf and a 132/33-kV substation in New Lusaily.

The Bahwan Engineering Company LLC (Muscat, Oman) has won a contract worth $61 million for two substations, each with a capacity of 132/11 kV, in Knowledge Village and the International Media Zone. Danway LLC (Dubai) won the $53 million contract for two substations, each with a capacity of 132/11 kV, at Earth Station/Discovery Gardens and International City 4.

The remaining three new 132/11 kV substations, in New Garhoud, Jafa South 2 and International City 4, will be built by Emirates Electrical Establishment LLC (Dubai). Project development time for all the new substations lies in the range of 20-22 months, with a 60-day reliability run required for each substation.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is a marketing information service specializing in industrial process, energy and financial related markets with products and services ranging from industry news, analytics, forecasting, plant and project databases, as well as multimedia services.