Russian equipment manufacturer Power Machines is to supply the turbine generators for the La Yesca hydro power scheme in Mexico, and has also signed a joint venture deal with Agrimeco of Vietnam to locally produce hydro equipment.

Power Machines is a subcontractor to the consortium just awarded the 750MW La Yesca contract by Mexico’s state power utility Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE). The company will supply two 375MW turbines, generators, ancillary equipment and also a 3MW plant for the JV’s own power needs for a contract valued at approximately US$200M.

The winning consortium bid US$768M. The JV consists of Ingenieros Civiles Asociados, Promotora e Inversora Adisa, La Peninsular Compania Constructora, and Constructora de Proyectos Hidroelectricos.

Under the construction schedule, the first unit is to be commissioned in January 2012, the second in April and the project is to be finished by June that year.

CFE is developing La Yesca on the Santiago river, and the scheme calls for construction of a 220m high dam, located approximately 105km north west of Guadalajara.

Separately, Power Machines has signed an agreement with Agrimeco to establish a joint venture in Vietnam to produce hydro power equipment. The manufacturing facility is to be based in Hung Yen province, and calls for an investment of approximately US$80M over 2008-11.

Under the agreement, the Russian-Vietnamese JV aims to produce turbines and generators up to 150MW and envisages output of 10-11 of each units annually. The markets to be served are Russia, Vietnam and southeast Asia.