News Desk
World review in brief from Issue Two 2003...World Bank endorses new water resources strategy and refocuses on hydro and damsThe Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank unanimously endorsed a new Water Resources Sector Strategy on 26 February. It aims to provide more effective assistance to countries using water as a vehicle for increasing growth and reducing poverty in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Peñas Blancas is commissionedCosta Rican President, Abel Pacheco, inaugurated the 37 MW Peñas Blancas hydro plant in San Ramón, Alajuela, in mid-March. Switzerland adds capacity at GrimselSwitzerland's Office of Water and Energy has approved the second stage of KWO Plus, an extension of the Grimsel 1 underground hydropower plant at a cost of CHF 30 million (US$ 22.4 million). Turkish dams undamaged in R 6.4 Bingöl earthquakeNearly 200 people died and about 500 more were injured when an earthquake with a Richter magnitude of 6.4 struck eastern Turkey in the early hours of 1 May. Its epicentre was close to Bingöl province. DSI officials have confirmed that no damage has been sustained to dams in the region. Contract awarded for Eastmain 1A contract valued at about Euro 38 million has been awarded for the engineering, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of three 160 MW units and auxiliaries for the Eastmain 1 plant in Canada. Ecuador revives Mazar projectEcuador's Government plans to oversee construction of the Mazar hydro project, which was in question recently, having encountered financial problems and legal issues. Go ahead for Angola's first private projectThe Angolan Government has approved the development of the country's first private power generation facility, a 20 MW hydro facility at Tchicapa Est.Harvey dam commissioned...The full commissioning of all the facilities at 55 m-high Harvey dam in Western Australia took place recently. ...and Waroona remedial works near completionMeanwhile, essential safety upgrading work is almost finished at the 47 m-high Waroona dam in Australia.Brazil announces studies for two new plantsAn electricity supplier in Brazil has announced the commissioning of a preliminary feasibility study and a simultaneous environmental impact assessment for the development of two new hydro plants on the Madeira river in Brazil.Austria plans Kops II plantAn Austrian utility has announced plans to build Kops II, a 450 MW combined pumped-storage plant, in southwestern Austria. Canutillar changes handsChile's 172 MW Canutillar hydro plant is to be sold for US$ 174 million. Award for Biasca upgradeA US$ 26.8 million contract has been awarded for the upgrading of the Biasca plant in Switzerland. Novo Pindo upgradedUpgrading of the Novo Pindo power station in A Coruña Province, Spain, was completed in April as part of a Euro 1.5 million contract.Mexican consortium wins bidding for El CajónA consortium of Mexican companies has won a contract to develop the 750 MW El Cajón plant on the Santiago river in Mexico's Nayarit State. Contract for UK flood warning projectA UK company has recently been selected for a £100 thousand (about US$ 161 thousand) flood warning project with the Environment Agency, part of which will involve producing 'rule-based' triggers for 21 fluvial flood warning areas for implementation on the Agency's North West's Regional Telemetry System. Kerala tenders small hydro projectsPrivate investment is being sought for the development of 30 small hydro projects with 79 MW of total capacity in Kerala, India. Supply for Norway's Otta riverA Euro 12 million contract has been awarded for the supply of equipment for a hydro project on the Otta river in Norway. Contract awarded for VishnuprayagA US$ 48 million order has been placed for the supply of generating equipment for the 400 MW Vishnuprayag run-of-river project on the Alaknanda river in Uttaranchal State, India. PPA signed for BakunThe developer of the 2400 MW Bakun hydro project has signed a memorandum of understanding related to the sale of power to a planned aluminium smelter at Similajau, near Bintulu, in Sarawak State, Malaysia. Virginia retrofit contract awardedA contract worth more than US$ 47 million has been awarded for a five-year, seven-unit refurbishment of the John H. Kerr powerhouse in Boydton, Virginia. Electrical equipment for NygardA Euro 7 million contract has been awarded for the provision of electrical equipment for the Nygard pumped-storage plant in western Norway. More large projects considered for the YangtzeFour hydropower complexes with a total capacity of 38 500 MW are planned for construction on the upper reaches of the Yangtze river and its tributaries. About US$ 120 million) is expected to be spent on the initial development of the new projects.Tilong and Batu Bulan completed...The 45 m-high Tilong dam and the 39 m-high Batu Bulan dam in Indonesia recently reached full supply level. Both dams were constructed as part of the country's Small Scale Irrigation Management Project (SSIMP). Meanwhile embankment works are nearing completion at the 61 m-high Pelaparado rockfill dam, which is also part of SSIMP.CEA approves Tipaimukh projectA 1500 MW hydro plant at Tipaimukh in the northeastern State of Manipur, India, is to go ahead following recent approval.Jaybird generators to be upgradedTwo generators at the Jaybird hydro station in northern California are to be upgraded, which will increase the station's power rating 77 to 85 MVA. Loan approved for Nepal power projectThe Government of Nepal will receive US$ 65 million in IDA grants as part of World Bank Group financing of an extensive power development project which will cost an estimated US$ 132 million, including interest during construction. Consultants will be required. Loan for power reform in IndiaIndia has received a loan from the Asian Development Bank for the State Power Sector Reform Project. For contracts valued at $5 million or more, sub-borrowers are to follow international competitive bidding procedures. For contracts of less than $5 million, competitive and transparent procedures will be followed by sub-borrowers. Transmission improvements planned for IndonesiaThe Republic of Indonesia has received a loan from the Asian Development Bank for a project to improve the power transmission sector in the country. International competitive bidding will be conducted for supply contracts of $500 000 or more as well as turnkey contracts packages of $1 million or more.IBRD lends to Chinese power sectorAn IBRD loan of US$ 145 million has been granted to China for the development of the 1000 MW Yixing pumped-storage project.Consultants sought for Red river managementVietnam has received a loan from the Asian Development Bank towards the cost of its Second Red River Basin Sector Project. The loan will be used for the procurement of water quality monitoring equipment, laboratory equipment, computer equipment, software, electrical installations and so on. Funds for water supply scheme, MozambiqueThe Government of Mozambique has received a loan and a grant from the African Development Fund to finance an urban water supply, sanitation and institutional support project. The construction works will be procured through international competitive bidding.Bids invited for water project, LaosInvitations to bid will be made shortly for a water supply and sanitation project in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.Full details of all these stories and many others are in the news section of Issue Two.Features: This special large-scale issue of H&D commemorates the biggest event of the year for the dam engineering profession: ICOLD Montreal 2003 (the 21st Congress and 71st Annual Meeting of ICOLD).A large part of this issue is devoted to dam engineering and hydro development in North America, with articles on all aspects of water resources development in Canada: exceptional hydraulic works in operation, plans for new hydro development, rehabilitation projects, and the national approach to dam safety, environmental management and seismic design.Two articles focus on the USA, one dealing with the Saluda dam scheme, where an RCC and rock berm is being added to increase seismic safety, and another on prospects and challenges facing the hydro industry. Although the USA cannot report significant new hydro development at present, our news pages feature details of a number of US hydro rehabilitation projects.Technical articles throughout the issue reflect the themes of the ICOLD Congress: earthquake engineering, rehabilitation and dam ageing (including the replacement of an AAR-damaged dam), environmental and social aspects (including fish protection) and project financing.A report from the World Bank Group's recent Energy Week 2003 forum on renewable energy demonstrates the Bank's renewed commitment to water resources projects for the developing world, and another article on finance discusses public/private partnerships.Also included is a report of the Third World Water Forum, which took place in Kyoto in March, under the auspices of the World Water Council.To order a subscription, email our Subscriptions Manager, Maria Flintan, at: subs@hydropower-dams.com