DISTRIBUTION equipment manufacturer VA Tech Reyrolle has won a high-profile contract worth £20.5m.

The business, in Hebburn, South Tyneside, will supply switchgear for the new Humber Oil Refinery Substation at the Immingham Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant in North Lincolnshire.

The plant will be the largest facility of its kind in the UK and one of the cleanest and most efficient in Europe, when it goes on line in summer next year.

VA Tech Reyrolle has been awarded the contract by the National Grid to design, supply and install an eight-bay indoor gas insulated switchgear substation.

The station, which is jointly owned by the National Grid and Conoco, will be situated alongside Conoco's Humber oil refinery, at South Killingholme, North Lincolnshire.

Charles Overstall, managing director of VA Tech Reyrolle said: "This is the second major contract we have announced from the National Grid in as many months.

"Working on this major new CHP plant will undoubtedly boost our reputation and further strengthen the VA TECH name as a renowned provider of competitive and quality transmission and distribution solutions."