Alstom to upgrade hydro plant in South Africa
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Alstom has signed a 22 million euro contract with Eskom Generation for the refurbishment and upgrade of four generators at the Gariep hydropower station located on the Orange River in Free State province, South Africa.
The overhaul of the generators will bring considerable benefits to the ageing plant, which was commissioned in the 1970s. The complete refurbishment work will ensure extended lifetime of the machines and an increased unit output from the current 100MVA to 122MVA. Other benefits include increased plant availability as well as reduction of maintenance and operation costs.
Alstom Hydro* will carry out the refurbishment work whose scope covers replacement of the stator frames, stator cores, stator windings and rotor windings of all four units. The first unit is scheduled for delivery in September 2009 and the last in early 2011.
Philippe Cochet, President of Alstom Hydro, said: This contract demonstrates once again that the performance of a hydropower plant built 30-40 years ago can be enhanced. We are happy Eskom has chosen Alstom in their development program.
*Alstom Hydro, a joint venture between Alstom and Bouygues, is the world leader in the supply of hydropower equipment and services with over 400MW of turbines and generators installed worldwide, representing more than 25% of worldwide hydropower installed capacity. Alstom Hydro offers the broadest range of products and solutions that cover all hydropower schemes, from large to small, from run-of-river to pumped-storage, for new installations, refurbishment, upgrading and services. The joint venture has 5500 employees in 19 countries.
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