El Salvador's CEL Delays Expansion of 5 de Noviembre Hydroelectric Plant

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--El Salvador's Comision Ejecutiva Hidroelectrica del Rio Lempa (CEL) (San Salvador) has extended the deadline for offers to update the feasibility studies and to validate the environmental analysis of the expansion of the 5 de Noviembre Hydroelectric Plant in El Salvador. For more details, view related June 12, 2008, article - El Salvador's CEL Opens Bids for Hydroelectric Plant Expansion.

The plant, located in Sensuntepeque of El Salvador's Cabanas Department, is equipped with three 19.9-megawatt (MW) Francis horizontal type turbines from Bell and a BBC generator, one 18.3-MW Francis horizontal type turbine supplied by Hitachi with a Hitachi generator, and one 21.4-MW turbine of the same type from Bell with an ASEA generator. The plant has a total power output of 99.4 MW.

The project would add two new 60-MW Francis vertical type turbines to incorporate an extra 120 MW of capacity to the plant's output.

Plant authorities told Industrial Info that the topographical studies to determine the hydraulic capacity were completed many years ago and that the specifications concerning design and technical details need to be updated. The process has been delayed because of the upcoming presidential election in March 2009. CEL is receiving proposals to carry out the studies and hopes to select an engineering, procurement and construction firm in 2009. Construction could begin mid-2010.

The plant was built in two phases between 1951 and 1966. It has an underground power house. A new power house will be needed in the expansion, as well as a new access and water-discharge canal.

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