Venezuela's Corpoelec Opens Bidding for Modernization of Hydropower Station

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources Latin America (Cordoba, Argentina)--The Venezuelan state-owned Company Corporacion Electrica Nacional (Corpoelec) (Caracas, Venezuela) recently called for bids for the modernization of units 1 through 6 of the Simon Bolivar Hydropower Plant on the Caroni River. The work will include the replacement or modernization of impellers, blades, control systems, auxiliary equipment and generators.

The tender includes the allocation of contracts for the design, supply and manufacturing of equipment and parts; transportation; modernization of the control system; installation; tests; and assembly and commissioning of the six generating units, which consist of Francis hydro-turbines manufactured by Hitachi Limited (NYSE:HIT) (Tokyo, Japan), generators, transformers, electrical and mechanical auxiliary systems. Units 1, 2 and 3 have a generating capacity of 185 megawatts (MW) each, and units 4 through 6 have a capacity of 225 MW each.

According to the schedule, Corpoelec will receive proposals until May and will select a major contractor in June this year. Corpoelec expects to begin with the modernization work in June 2013. The project is expected to be completed in 2019.

There is currently an active project at the facility to modernize the units 12, 15, 16, 18 and 20. The companies involved in this project are Andritz Hydro CA (Caracas) and Alstom Venezuela (Caracas). The completion of this project is scheduled for 2015.

With the completion of these projects, Corpoelec seeks to extend the useful life of the power plant's main equipment in 25 years and increase the plant capacity by 20%, which could be compared to energy savings equivalent to 78,000 barrels of oil per day.

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