Swiss-Swedish engineering group ABB announced Wednesday it had won a $120 million order in China to develop and supply equipment for an ultra high voltage electricity line.

The contract, with China's State Grid Corporation (SGCC), is part of plans for a 2,090 kilometre (1,300 mile) power link to transport clean hydropower from Sichuan province in central-western China to the highly industrialized coastal area in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

The link is expected to be running in 2013.

The project "reflects the continued confidence of SGCC in ABB's technologies and globally proven domain expertise," in such high-voltage systems, said Peter Leupp, head of ABB's power systems division.

"We have a long track record in China and are pleased to continue supporting the country in its efforts to strengthen the national power infrastructure and minimize environmental impact," he added.