ESB International (ESBI), the overseas arm of the State-owned utility, has won EUR4 million of new business in the Middle East and Africa.

The contracts involve ESBI providing engineering consultancy services in three countries. The value of each project was not disclosed.

ESBI will work in South Africa with Eskom Ltd, the South African utility, to provide engineering services for the development and construction of new power plants. The two companies will help to provide new generation at two sites located near Cape Town.

ESBI is slowly building up its presence in Africa.

Last year it signed a contract with Nampower of Namibia to act as technical advisor on the first combined cycle gas turbine power plant in the southern tip of Africa.

In the Middle East, ESBI is involved in assessing the feasibility of putting more gas fired power plants on the Egyptian electricity system.

The assessment is being funded by the European Investment Bank.

"ESBI will work closely with the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company to develop a framework that will make full strategic use of the country's natural gas resources through the development of further combined cycle generation on the Egyptian electricity system.

The project work will be carried out in Cairo and Dublin," said a spokeswoman.

ESB is working in Bahrain with the Bahrain Ministry of Electricity and Water on a project to extend the country's electricity transmission system.

In addition, it will work with the Gulf Petroleum Investment Corporation to carry out a feasibility study on providing additional power generation.

ESBI is a wholly owned subsidiary of ESB. ESB chief executive Pádraig McManus has often expressed his desire to see the company grow.

This is a key objective of the ESB Group, which is not allowed to expand any further in the Irish market.

ESBI is currently constructing two combined cycle gas turbine power plants at Amorebieta in northern Spain and at Coolkeeragh, near Derry

The company has operations and projects in over 40 countries from Britain to Indonesia, through Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Since its establishment, ESBI has completed projects in over 115 countries.