TWO HYDRO STATIONS IN Bulgaria will be refurbished under a US$16M contract won by alstom (consortium leader) and voith-siemens Hydro Power Generation.

Bulgarian energy company Natsionalna Elektrischeska Kompania EAD placed the order to refurbish the Orfeus and Krichim stations, which are sited close to Plovdiv. Work is due to begin at the end of January 2003 and will include new turbine runners, governors, process and control systems, medium and low voltage equipment, static excitation and electrical protection. The consortium will also be responsible for project management and commissioning.

Alstom’s hydro division in Austria is leading the project and has co-ordinated the overall financing. The equipment will be manufactured at the Alstom facilities in Austria and France.