Alstom has been awarded a contract by Venezuela's state electricity company Cadafe to build the 514MW La Vueltosa hydroelectric plant in Merida state, south-western Venezuela. The contract, signed on 11 May 2003, in the presence of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, is worth US$160M. It is expected to be financed by Brazilian and French banks.
alstom is supplying a turnkey package comprising: 2 x 257 MW Francis generating units, complete electromechanical balance of plant, ALSPA control systems, hydro-mechanical equipment, transmission line, and some related civil works. The equipment will be manufactured in Alstom’s facilities in Brazil and France and the project is scheduled to be completed by July 2006.
La Vueltosa is the third project of the 1531MW Uribante-Caparo hydroelectric complex. When completed, the hydroelectric plant, managed by Cadafe, will benefit the states of Tachira, Merida, Barinas and Apure in the southwest of Venezuela.