Re Contract

ABB Ltd
7 December 2000


ABB Media Relations                         ABB Investor Relations
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         ABB wins US$ 80-million power transmission order in Mexico


         Part of US$ 250-million consortium project to boost energy 
                          supply in growth market

Zurich, Switzerland, December 7, 2000 - Global technology ABB said today it has
won a US$80-million order to design, build and finance part of a 750-kilometer
high-voltage power transmission system, including advanced fiber optic links and
integrated control systems, to support steadily increasing demand for energy in
Mexico.

The order is part of a US$250-million project by Mexico's Comision Federal de
Electricidad (CFE), the state-owned electricity utility, to speed development of
the country's electrical infrastructure. The power transmission system will
improve the link between growing industrial centers in the states of Tamaulip as
and San Luis Potosi, roughly 500 kilometers north of Mexico City, and the rest
of Mexico's national grid. ABB's consortium partners are Spain-based Isolux and
Mexico-based Techint.

'ABB's strong local presence and advanced transmission systems technology allow
us to quickly provide Mexico with the most modern power transmission solution
available,' said Sune Karlsson, executive vice-president and head of ABB's power
transmission and power distribution businesses. 'As Mexico's economy continues
to grow, we expect to see further opportunities to support power and industrial
infrastructure development.'

The scope of the project includes five power transmission lines, four
substations and all related electrical systems and equipment. The substations
will be linked with fiber optic telecommunications systems to enhance network
control-including the use of Internet technologies - and to improve safety. 
Work on the project begins this month and is expected to finish by the middle of
2002.

The ABB Group (www.abb.com) serves customers in power transmission and
distribution; automation; oil, gas and petrochemicals; building technologies;
and in financial services. With novel IT applications, tailored software
solutions, growing eBusiness and a fast-expanding knowledge and service base,
ABB is building links to the new economy. The ABB Group employs about 160,000
people in more than 100 countries.