Re Contract

ABB Ltd
7 December 2001


ABB to lead $65 million power line project 
Will build a 309-kilometer power link on the island of Java 

Zurich, Switzerland, December 07, 2001 - A consortium led by ABB, the global
power and technology company, has signed a contract worth about 71 million
euros (US$ 65 million) with the Indonesian state electricity supplier
PT-PLN (Persero) to build a 309-kilometer power line on the main island
of Java.
 
ABB's portion of the contract is worth about 35 million euros (US$ 32 million). 
The line is part of the extension of the 500 kV ultra-high voltage
grid linking new power plants in eastern Java to the cities of Jakarta,
Bandung and Yogyakarta.
 
ABB will lead a group of consortium partners and subcontractors, and provide
engineering, design, project management, supply management and logistics for
a project that will involve 4,000 workers in more than 750 construction
sites.

'This transmission link is critical to the continued development of
Indonesia's power sector as it will increase the physical capacity,
efficiency and reliability of Java's transmission system.' said Richard
Siudek, executive vice president and head of ABB's Utilities division. 'ABB
brings the skills and local know-how required for fast track delivery of such
a large and geographically challenging project.' 

The order is scheduled for completion within 24 months and includes 750
towers weighing roughly 26,000 tons, 7,500 kilometers of conductors, 380,000
insulators and a ground wire with integral optical fibers for
telecommunications transmission. 70% of the power line will be installed over
rice paddies, which will require a special foundation system ABB has designed
for soft soil conditions.

The Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) is financing the project.
The Japanese engineering consultant NEWJEC INC. will assist in supervising
the project. 

ABB (www.abb.com) is a global leader in power and automation technologies
that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while
lowering environmental impact. ABB has 160,000 employees in more than 100
countries. 


For more information please contact:
 
Investor Relations: 
ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd 
Switzerland: Tel. [phone] 
Sweden: Tel. [phone] 
USA: Tel. [phone] 
[e-mail] 

Media Relations: 
ABB Corporate Communications, Zurich 
Wylie Rogers Tel: [phone] 
Fax: [phone] 
[e-mail]