News Desk
World review in brief from Issue Five 2002…EPC contract for El Cajon, MexicoThe Mexican Government has announced an international tender for an EPC construction for the 680 MW El Cajon hydro plant in the State of Nayarit.Bids invited for Krupa and lower Banja LukaThe Republic of Srpska invites bids for the construction and exploitation of the 48.5 MW Krupa and 37.2 MW lower Banja Luka hydro schemes on the Vrbas river.BOT interest boosts Bui prospectsDespite problems with its existing hydropower capacity, Ghana's plans to build a 400 MW hydro plant at Bui in the northwestern region of Brong-Ahafo remain on course. Eleven companies have expressed an interest in bidding for the estimated $ 600 million build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract. Prequalification for Gojeb, EthiopiaThe Government of Ethiopia has allocated a budget to cover the foreign and local currency payments for the Gojeb hydro project in the southwest of the country. The Ethiopia Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO) now wishes to pre-qualify contractors for the dam, powerhouse and road construction.New milestone for Three GorgesChina's Three Gorges dam project achieved its latest landmark, with topping out completed at the crest elevation of 185 m in phase 2 of the construction. In Phase 3, the dam will be extended through the existing division channel to the right bank with a second intake and powerhouse; extending the dam's length to 2.3 km.Closure of diversion ducts at CaruachiThe 18 diversion ducts of the 2160 MW Caruachi dam and power station under construction on the Caroní in Venezuela are now being closed by wagon gates ready for impounding (see also H&D Issue Four). Work begins at TekezeChina National Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Corporation started work in mid-August on the $ 224 million Tekeze dam project on the river with the same name.Impoundment begins at Mohale damThe 145 m-high Mohale CFRD was recently completed in Lesotho, and impoundment of its reservoir will begin this month (October). It is the main element of Phase 1B of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), providing an additional 0.95 km3 of storage.Civil works contract for Bakun Sarawak Hidro of Malaysia has awarded a M$ 1.78 billion civil works contract for the Bakun hydroelectric project. The contract includes the construction of the main dam, spillway, intake, penstocks, bottom outlet works, powerhouse, and electrical and mechanical installations.Pleikrong goes aheadThe Vietnamese Government has approved the implementation of the Pleikrong hydro project in the Central Highlands. The 110 MW plant will be built on a branch of the Sesan river on the borders of Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces. WAPDA advances hydro projectsThe State-owned Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA) of Pakistan has sought approval from the National Economic Council to implement a hydro project in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Meanwhile, Pakistan's economic council has approved 22 projects worth a total of PKR 70 billion (US$ 1.18 billion) led mainly by hydro and irrigation projects as part of a drive to reduce dependence on oil-fired plants. New Zealand to sell hydro assets New Zealand's state-owned Natural Gas Corp Holdings Ltd plans to sell 510 MW of generation assets including the 32 MW Cobb hydro station near Nelson and a 50 per cent interest in the 118 MW Southdown station. Contract for Tala A Japanese joint venture has been awarded a US$ 14.7 million turnkey contract for a 420 kV SF6 gas insulation switchgear (GIS) and accessories for the Tala hydro project in southwest Bhutan. Joint venture for Kandy projectAn Indian/ Sri Lankan joint venture is to build a 10 MW hydroelectric plant near Kandy, Sri Lanka. The plant is scheduled to begin commercial operation about two years after the start of construction.More Bulgarian small hydro for saleBulgaria's state utility NEK is set to resume the sale of its small hydro stations, with the 14.4 MW Zhrebchevo hydro plant due to be auctioned in September. In late August, NEK and the Energy Ministry agreed on the sale of seven schemes along the Yantra river.RusAl invests in BoguchanskRussian Aluminium (RusAl) is to provide a loan of $ 10 million to the country's electricity holding company UES towards the completion of the Boguchansk hydropower station in Siberia. Five groups compete for Tocoma Venezuela's State power company Edelca announced in early September that five joint ventures had expressed interest in participating in the construction of the $2 billion Tocoma dam project.Manantali comes online After years of delays, the first phase of the Manatali hydro complex in Mali has been completed. The project's first three units have been brought on line, while the fourth and fifth machines are nearing completion. Danes invest in Norwegian hydro marketDenmark's Energi E2 became the first foreign power generator with a direct interest in Norwegian hydropower when in mid-August it acquired a 33.3 per cent stake in Narvik Energi. The deal was finalized in March 2002, but required approval from the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, which was awarded in July.Iberdrola tests Millares II Spanish electricity company Iberdrola SA has begun tests at its Millares II hydro powerplant, in the province of Valencia. The plant is expected to begin operating in the fourth quarter of this year. Contract to develop fish-friendly turbineGE Hydro has been awarded a contract by the US Army Corps of Engineers to design a fish-friendly hydroelectric turbine that will reduce fish mortality while minimizing the impact on power generation efficiency and output levels. O&M contract signed for Jaurú Queiroz Galvăo Energia, the operator of Brazil's Jaurú hydro plant, has awarded a US $ 3 million contract for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the plant for a period of five years.Contract awarded for Kiira fourth unitUganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd has awarded a contract for the supply and installation of the fourth 40 MW unit for the Kiira hydropower station.Contract awarded for refurbishment of ManapouriA Euro 15 million order has been placed for the uprating and refurbishment of seven 135 MVA hydro generators at the Manapouri hydro station in New Zealand.Toulnustouc river scheme goes aheadA $61 million contract has been awarded for the construction of a hydroelectric scheme on the Toulnustouc river. Full details of all these stories and many others are in the news section of Issue Five.To commemorate the international conference and exhibition HYDRO 2002, organized by Hydropower & Dams and taking place in Kiris, Turkey from 4 to 7 November, this issue has a major special section devoted to water resources development projects in Turkey. There are features on four major projects (Hakkari, Ermenek, Kürtün and Akköpprü) as well as an overview of future development plans by the Director General of DSI, and progress reports from the sites of some of the most important schemes under way, including Deriner.The other main themes of the issue are: Pelton turbine technology; pumped storage; and, hydro bearings. First reports are included from ICOLD 2002 in Iguassu.To order a subscription, email our Subscriptions Manager, Maria Flintan, at: subs@hydropower-dams.com