A JV between alstom Hydro and Portuguese firms EFACEC Engenharia and SMM was awarded a contract to extend the Alqueva pumped storage plant in Portugal. The Euro94M (US$139M) contract was awarded by Energias de Portugal (EDP).
Under the contract, Alstom will supply, deliver and install a pair of 130MW reversible turbine-generators and other mechanical equipment. Alstom's partners will be responsible for the balance of plant and site erection.
Alstom supplied the plant's initial two 130MW units, which have been in operation since 2004. The contract will double the installed capacity of the plant under a long-term deal with the plant owner, Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infra-estruturas do Alqueva (EDIA).
The 35-year contract to manage and uprate the plant - and also cover the 10MW Pedrogao plant - involved EDP making an upfront payment of Euro195M (US$288M) and then annual payments of Euro12.6M (US$18.6M). The utility is also to invest approximately Euro156M (US$230M) to expand capacities at the plants, with the bulk of the spend at Alqueva.
Separately, in Panama, a JV led by Alstom has won a contract to supply electro-mechanical and hydro-mechanical equipment for three new plants being developed by Suez Energy Central America (Seca).
The three plants - Prudencia, Lorena and Gualaca - are being built on the Chiriqui river in Chriqui province, and are to be commissioned over August 2009 to February 2011.
Pairs of units will be supplied to the three plants - Prudencia (2 x 28.7MW), Lorena (2 x 17.4MW) and Gualaca (2 x 13MW).
