Alstom to deliver Itaipu turbine wheel

The Brazilian unit of French power sector equipment manufacturer Alstom will deliver the turbine wheel for the 18A generation unit at the Itaipu hydroelectric power plant on the Parana river in southern Brazil, Alstom said in a statement. Alstom is one of a consortium of suppliers awarded a US$184mn contract in August 2002 to supply the 9A and 18A generators, which are scheduled to begin operations in January and April 2004, respectively. This marks the final stage of construction at Itaipu, bringing total installed capacity to 14,000MW. Alstom is the consortium leader and its share of the contract is 30%. It is supplying the turbine wheel for 18A as well as various pieces of equipment for both units, sourced from its factories at Taubate and Jaguare in Sao Paulo.