Simultaneously with the prequalification process for construction of electrical power structures in Norway (in 2004), we have also initiated the prequalification process for construction of electrical power structures in Sweden.
A significant positive impulse to that project came with the Croatian Government’s announcement of a tender for buying military aircrafts, with an offset requirement.
The Swedish company SAAB included Dalekovod d.d. in their programme proposal and enabled us to make important contacts in the Svenska Kraftnät Company (national distribution system operator), which speeded up the qualifiers and before long allowed us to participate in public competitions for Svenska Kraftnät. This was significantly reinforced by the very successful results that Dalekovod d.d. realised in the construction of a 420 kV transmission line in Norway.
In 2007, Dalekovod d.d. bid in the competition for construction of a 420 kV transmission line (interconnection Norway - Sweden), but unfortunately we have not been selected for the job.
In the meantime, through our colleagues at SAAB we managed to make new contacts at Vattenfall Services Nordic: on 30 June 2009 we concluded an agreement to carry out electrical installation works (installation of conductors and OPGW cables) on a section (47.5 km) of a 500 kV Dannebo - Finnböle transmission line. Those works are going to be prepared this winter and carried out in the summer 2010. Even though the agreement in question is relatively minor (approx. 18,000,000.00 SEK), for Dalekovod d.d. it is a great step forward on the Swedish market.
During the last December, again thanks to assistance from SAAB, we managed to visit and have a talk with the representatives from ABB and AREVA companies, and arrange the participation of Dalekovod d.d. as a partner or manufacturer in the construction of 400 kV electrical substations in Sweden. It should be pointed out that the prequalification process for contractors in Sweden is somewhat different than in Norway, for instance, because they require more frequent process updates.
There have been announcements of large investment projects in the construction of electrical power structures in Sweden, namely:
- South Western link 400 kV (overall investment estimated at 600 million EUR)
- Stockholm Sröm 400 kV
- Hammarfarsen- Sigsän 220kV
- Erikslund 130 kV.
As a part of the qualification process, a delegation of Svenska Kraftnät (Swedish distribution system operator) led by Mr. Hans Lundin, Purchasing Manager, will visit Dalekovod d.d. in Zagreb between 3 and 5 February 2010.
Aside from reviewing manufacturing and technological documents, the schedule also predicts a tour and examination of manufacturing facilities of Dalekovod d.d. (factory in Velika Gorica and Dalekovod-Cinčaonice d.o.o. in Dugo Selo), as well as a tour and examination of construction sites (2x 400 kV Ernestinovo-Pečuh transmission line).
We hope that the positive outcome of this visit will enable Dalekovod d.d. to step even further on the Swedish market.