News Desk
World review in brief from Issue One 2003...NTPC plans large hydro schemesNational Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India plans to build 3000 MW of hydro capacity over the next ten years.Meanwhile, NTPC is analysing bids received in tenders for the Koldam project, including the civil works, hydro-mechanical equipment and the penstock and powerhouse packages. Bids are due by 15 March for the electromechanical package.River diversion achieved at MuratliRiver diversion was achieved on 9 January at the 44 m-high Muratli dam, under construction on the Çoruh river in northeastern Turkey. Brazil adopts new approaches to hydroThe Brazilian Government plans to promote public-private development partnerships for new hydro generation projects and to create a State-owned company charged with buying a mix of thermal and hydro production, the country's new Minister of Mines and Energy has announced. Thailand approves Salween projectThailand's Energy Ministry has given approval in principle for plans to construct a large-scale hydro project on the Salween river. Pumped-storage planned for CaliforniaThe Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District has revived plans to build a 500 MW pumped-storage project at Lake Elsinore in southwestern Riverside County, California, USA.Vattenfall to upgrade its hydro stationsSweden's State-owned energy company Vattenfall has announced that it is to invest SKr 5.7 billion (about US$ 700 million) to rehabilitate its hydropower stations in Sweden. Neuquen reviews offer for hydro projectThe Government of Argentina's southwestern province Neuquen is reviewing a bid in excess of US$ 700 million from a consortium of Argentine companies for a 25-year concession to build, finance, and operate a 228 MW hydroelectric scheme. Meridian plans Waitaki plantsMeridian Energy has announced plans to build about 570 MW of new hydro capacity on its Waitaki river system. NWFP signs Malakand agreementThe Government of the North West Frontier province of Pakistan and the China International Electric Corporation have signed an agreement according to which the Chinese company will build the 81 MW Malakand-III hydro project.Goldisthal begins commercial operationThe first of the four 265 MW pump-turbine units at the 1060 MW Goldisthal pumped-storage plant in Thuringia, Germany, has begun commercial operation. Pirot announces mini hydro plansThe southern Serbian hydropower generator Pirot recently announced plans to build two mini hydro schemes on the rivers Nisava and Visocica. The two plants will have total installed capacity of 12 MW, producing a combined annual output of 65 GWh. Green energy brand launched in The PhilippinesThe Hydro Electric Development Corporation (Hedcor) of the Philippines, a subsidiary of the Aboitiz Power Corporation, has launched a green energy brand known as Cleanergy, in anticipation of the eventual introduction of retail competition in The Philippines power sector.Study goes ahead for Popa FallsThe local consortium Water Transfer Consultants has been awarded a contract by Namibia's State utility NamPower for a pre-feasibility study for the construction of a 20 MW hydro scheme on the Okavango river. Turbine order for Suofengying hydro stationAlstom has received an order valued at approximately Euro 12 million from the Guizhou Wujiang Hydro Power Development Co Ltd, China, for the supply of three 200 MW Francis turbines for the Suofengying hydro station in the southwestern province of Guizhou.Serbia's Djerdap to be upgradedRepresentatives of EnergoMashEksport of the Russian Federation travelled to Belgrade in mid-January for a three-week tour of Serbia's 1058 MW Djerdap (Iron Gates) hydro plant, and for talks on the plant's upgrading. Complex negotiations with Serbia's power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) on the massive repair contract began on 20 January.Eskom to run Ugandan hydro plantSouth Africa's Eskom Enterprises outbid Spain's Union Fenosa and Tata Power Co of India to obtain a 20-year concession to run two hydropower plants in Uganda: Kiira (120 MW) and Nalubale (180 MW).Modernization contract for BistricaA consortium of Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation, St. Pölten, Austria and Siemens, Greece, is to modernize the Bistrica 1 hydro station in Albania as part of a Euro 18 million contract awarded by State power utility Korporata Elektroenergjetike in Shqiptare (KESH).Full details of all these stories and many others are in the news section of Issue One.Features: In this issue, which has a regional focus on Asia, we include articles on projects in India and Laos, an overview of China's strategy for future development, and a supplement of reports on progress at projects in Bhutan, Indonesia, Rep. of Korea, Thailand, the Russian Federation and Georgia. There is also a report of the recent conference which took place in Delhi on the Engineering of Dams and Appurtenance Works.Three papers deal with Francis turbine technology, and another describes recent upgrading projects in Germany where modern control systems were installed.Another special section of the issue covers tunnels and tunnelling, with some case studies relating to challenging projects in Norway, Portugal and New Zealand. There is also a paper on monitoring flow in large diversion tunnels, important for asset management and optimized operation of powerplants.Foundation treatment, challenging geological conditions and tunnelling is also the main subject of the feature on the Parbati scheme in India.To order a subscription, email our Subscriptions Manager, Maria Flintan, at: subs@hydropower-dams.com