A contract worth 500 million - Alstom will be a major provider to the Belo Monte Dam hydropower plant in Brazil

 Alstom has signed a contract worth approximately 500 million with Norte Energia of Brazil to provide power equipment for the Belo Monte Dam, the worlds third-largest hydroelectric power plant with a planned capacity of 11,230 MW. The Belo Monte project will dam the Xingu river in Brazils northern Pará state.

Alstom will lead a consortium that includes German Voith and Austrian Andritz for fourteen 611 MW Francis turbine-generator sets and the six smaller Bulb units. Alstom will supply seven Francis units, hydro-mechanical equipment and associated Gas Insulated Substations (GIS) for the fourteen large-scale units.

It is expected that Belo Monte will take eight years to be built. When operating at full capacity, Belo Monte will meet the electricity needs of 35 million people.

Hydropower accounts for 85% of Brazils power production. Alstom, present in Brazil for 55 years, has played a significant role in the development of this hydro capacity including providing products and services for hydropower projects including Itaipu the worlds second largest hydropower plant-, Tucuruí and most recently Jirau and Santo Antônio, as well as thermal projects such as TermoBahia and ThyssenKrup CSA.

Overall, Alstom has supplied more than 100 hydro turbines and generators to the Brazilian market over the past ten years and its equipment accounts for 35% of Brazils installed hydro capacity.

Alstom's world leading power technology continues to play an important role in Brazil's long-term quest to secure its energy future by investing in renewables, said Philippe Joubert, Alstom Power President. This contract is the product of our commitment to developing highly efficient renewable energy solutions. Our high performance hydro turbines and generators, in conjunction with our grid technology, maximize the efficiency of hydropower plants.


About Alstom
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 95,000 people in more than 70 countries, and had sales of over 23 billion* in 2009/10. (*Pro forma figures)
 
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