QUITO, September 19 (Itar-Tass) — The first group of Russian engineers began work in Ecuador on the contract envisioning the supply of 150 million dollar electromechanical equipment for the Toachi Pilaton hydropower complex, Russian ambassador to Ecuador Yan Burlyai told Itar-Tass.
“The talk is about practical implementation of the treaty between Russia’s Inter RAO UES (state-controlled power trader) and Ecuador’s state-run company Hidrotoapi that also envisages assembling and setting operations and the launch of units for three hydropower plants with the total capacity of 252 MW,” he said.
“The Toachi Pilaton hydropower complex is of strategic importance for Ecuador as it will allow the country to ensure stable energy supply even in drought-ridden years,” the ambassador said.
Burlyai noted that the Russian-Ecuadorian talks on further cooperation in hydropower development of this Latin American country took place in Quito.
In particular, the two countries reached agreements concerning promising plans for the turn key construction of a cascade of three hydropower plants Mandarayacu-Chirapi-Chontal.
“The new project that is being discussed is estimated at 700 million dollars. Its implementation will demonstrate Russia’s readiness to expand its presence in Ecuador that is one of its leading trade partners in Latin America,” the ambassador said.
“According to the Central Bank of Russia, bilateral trade between our countries will exceed 1.1 billion dollars this year,” Burlyai said.