News Desk
World review in brief from Issue Three 2003...Three Gorges begins impoundingChina's Three Gorges dam began impounding on 1 June. Synchronizing of the first unit of the left bank powerhouse has also been accomplished.Reservoir begins filling at KozjakInitial reservoir impounding began on 29 May at Macedonia's 126 m-high Kozjak dam. Filling of the lake will continue until final work at the site is completed.Contracts awarded for the Kárahnjúka CFRDIceland's national power company, Landsvirkjun, has awarded contracts for the construction of the 190 m-high Kárahnjúka dam.Hydro deal signed for La VueltosaA US$ 160 million contract was awarded by Venezuela's state electricity company Cadafe to build the 514 MW La Vueltosa hydro plant in southwestern Venezuela. First unit starts up at Ghazi BarothaThe first 300 MW turbine at the Ghazi Barotha hydro station on the Indus river in northwestern Pakistan was recently commissioned. Algerian dams withstand earthquakeThe 6.8 magnitude earthquake which struck Algeria on 21 May caused widespread devastation, killing 2271 people and leaving 9000 wounded. Our news report has a detailed account of the effect on dams in the vicinity.Heavy floods cause dam failures in the USATorrential rains in mid-May caused the Tourist Park dam and an earth saddle dyke at the Silver Lake dam in Michigan to breach. The resulting flood necessitated the evacuation of approximately 1800 people from their homes; however, no injuries or missing persons were reported.A further five small dams failed during the heavy storms passing through Hoke and Cumberland Counties in North Carolina, USA, on 25 and 26 May. Construction resumes at NarmadaConstruction has resumed at India's Sardar Sarovar multipurpose project on the Narmada river, following the granting of permission to increase the height of the dam by 5 m to 100 m. San Roque under commissioningThe generation component of the 345 MW San Roque multipurpose project in the Philippines has begun commissioning and is expected to start commercial operation shortly. Tsankov Kamak to go ahead soonImplementation of the 80 MW Tsankov Kamak hydro plant on the Vatcha river in Bulgaria is expected to start later this year. Gogosu to be modernizedThe bulb turbine units at the Gogosu hydro plant on the Danube river in Romania are to be overhauled and modernized as part of a Euro 55 million contract.UES open to offers for BoguchanyUES of Russia has announced that is open to offers for the completion of the giant Boguchany hydro plant on the Angara river in Siberia.Resource consents sought for Project AquaState-owned Meridian Energy announced on 14 May that it would formally apply for the approvals to allow Project Aqua in north Otago, New Zealand, to go ahead.Romania moves ahead with new hydro plantsContractors are set to be selected for the construction of three hydro schemes, the most advanced of which is the 29 MW Islaz scheme on the Olt river in central Romania. Hydro equipment for Costa RicaA turnkey contract has been awarded for the supply of complete electromechanical equipment for the 50 MW La Joya hydro plant in Costa Rica.Contract award soon for KamengContract are expected to be awarded shortly for construction of the 600 MW Kameng hydro project in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Austria backs Bosnia hydro schemesA bilateral agreement has been signed between Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina for the joint construction of the Ustikolina and Vranduk hydro plants. China approves new projectsChina's State Council has approved plans to build 13 new powerplants with a total capacity of 11 880 MW, including three new hydro projects and a pumped-storage plant. Agreement signed for Djerdap 1 upgradeAn agreement worth more than $100 million has been signed for the upgrade of the Djerdap 1 hydro plant in Serbia. Punjab offers schemes to private sectorPunjab has opened the further development of the Upper Bary Doab Canal (UBDC) power project to private investment. Proposals wre sought by the end of July for the development of the 75 MW UBDC stage-III hydro project.Zhigung goes aheadConstruction of the 100 MW Zhigung hydro plant on the Lhasa river, in Tibet, China, officially began on 18 May. Sale of Chilean hydro plantsA tender has been launched for the sale of the Coya and Pangal hydro plants and for the water rights for development of the Alto Cachapoal river basin, Chile. Bidding for Three Gorges turbines and generatorsBids have been invited for the supply of turbines and generators for the right bank power station of the Three Gorges project. Bulgaria to auction small hydro plantsThe Privatization Agency has announced the auction of a pool of eight hydro plants. Hawaii seeks renewable projectsProposals have been invited for the development of renewable energy projects in Hawaii.Russian utility seeks hydro investorsA Russian regional utility, based in Leningrad, is seeking investors to assist it with the refurbishment of three hydro plants. Hidropaute expected to call for bids shortlyEcuador's Government is expected to call for bids from consultants to update the project design and engineering studies for Compania de Generación Hidroelectrica Paute S.A. (Hidropaute).Cleaning of the Nura river, KazakhstanA $40.39 million World Bank loan has been approved for a project involving a cleanup of the Nura river in Kazakhstan. To order a subscription, email our Subscriptions Manager, Maria Flintan, at: subs@hydropower-dams.com