excellent transmission MVM OVIT

ExCELLENT TRANSMISSION

MVM OVIT Zrt., a member of the largest state-owned Hungarian power company, the MVM group, has recently extended its activities to meet current demands in the domestic market. While moving in new directions the company has also successfully increased its presence and found unexploited opportunities by continuing with its core businesses beyond the domestic market. Edina Beale reports.

MVM OVIT Zrt., the second largest company within the Hungarian MVM energy group, had been constructing high voltage power transmission lines and substations for over six decades when, in 2012, it had to diversify due to the full completion of the transmission line systems in Hungary. In order to utilise its professional knowledge and expertise a strategic decision was made to lay foundations in the railway sector and start assembling railway transmission lines.

Green innovations

Keeping in step with changing times, in 2015 OVIT began to explore a brand new sector and found evidence that the demand for photovoltaic power station developments (solar park) in Hungary signals huge growth potential. Today the company is the biggest expert in the design and development of photovoltaic power stations in the country.

In the renewable energy resources sector the company has also entered a new field; OVIT has conducted a pilot project to re-fit a previously natural gas fuelled power station into a biomass fired plant. The significance of this project was enhanced by the fact that the new in-built furnace was developed and produced at its power plant manufacturing unit.

Key partners

Alongside its new activities, OVIT has continued their businesses with their two key partners; jobs conducted for MAVIR Zrt. and MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant provided 40 per cent of the company’s 51 billion annual turnover in 2016.

Last year OVIT constructed two 400 kV substations for two large power transmission line systems. Apart from these large-scale projects the company has also taken part in numerous railway transmission line assembly projects. The demand for railway projects has been increasing since 2010 and OVIT is now in a stable position in this market. At present OVIT is working on the reconstruction of a railway line passage between Budapest and Esztergom, an assign-

ment which started last year. Tasks include the integration of local and overhead power remote control and the modernisation of the towing substation. In the power plant sector, MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant has provided long-term contracts for OVIT. Current projects include the reconstruction of the safety cooling water system at the 1-4. unit, and the reconstruction of the 06 type main distribution equipment and other machine maintenance tasks. Moreover, OVIT carries out high voltage and installation maintenance works, and provides welding and technological pipe assembly services as well as the repair of steel structures at this power plant. Foreign success

OVIT is a Hungarian market leader in all areas of energy service. Owing to its specialist knowledge, long traditions and extensive expertise the company is able to place its products and services in the international market.

In 2013 a consortium agreement was made with the Czech KLEMENT a.s. The first success arising from this agreement was the winning of tender to modernise a 300km power line for CEPS a.s., a Czech transmission system controller. As a result of this, a year later OVIT received a request for a similar project. Another assignment was completed in 2015 when the consortium signed a contract

with Hradec to extend a 400kV station in Hradec. “It was important for us as it was a very complex project: the steel structures that were integrated during the reconstruction of the substation were manufactured in our own unit that was built to produce high voltage transmission systems and now provides unique solutions to meet the requirements of the energetic industry,” explains Mr Norbert Lajos Korom, chief executive of MVM OVIT Zrt.

“We are also very proud to win the development work for the Swiss CERN substations. We successfully completed a system reconstruction project in 2012–14 at CERN, and in 2016 CERN selected us again to carry out the 400kV high voltage system extension and reconstruction work. The fact that CERN, a renowned international organisation, recognised and utilises our knowledge, experience and professionalism in the field of electric system developments.”

New targets

OVIT aims to achieve success in the foreign market by establishing a stable base in each of its target markets. It has one office in the Czech Republic, and is planning to set up a Slovenian office, but it is also considering the whole of Balkan region where it seems many unexplored opportunities.

Mr Korom has also revealed that, following a long and thorough preparation process, the company has started operating in the Middle East markets, beginning with Saudi Arabia. “The Saudi Arabian International Company (AIC) has signed a contract with us to start a joint venture in March this year. The new joint venture is registered with its headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and its main activities will include the construction of high voltage power transmission lines, power station furnace construction and reconstruction as well as taking part in relating developments and in renewable energy projects,” concludes Mr Korom. n

Ceo: Dr Norbert lajos Korom Dr Norbert lajos Korom is a lawyer and energy specialist. He has been the Ceo of mVm oVIT Zrt since 30 April 2016.During his career he has worked in Hungarian and international law firms, then in the Prime minister’s office as a lawyer. He later served as a consultant in the gas sector for mol Rt. From 2010 he had been the managing director of magyar Kémény Kft. Since 2015 he has also been the Ceo of mVm eRBe Zrt. which is also part of the mVm Group.