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Russia’s Inter RAO to invest $196 mln in construction of thermal power plant in Ecuador

When the project is realized, Termogas Machala will be Ecuador’s first thermal plant operating on the combined (gas and steam) cycle

MOSCOW, October 29 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s Inter RAO has agreed its investments in the construction of a heat power plant in Ecuador, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa told a news conference at Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“Inter RAO has confirmed its investments worth 196 million U.S. dollars in the construction of an electricity plant,” he said, adding that the construction of two hydropower plants with Inter RAO’s participation was nearing completion.

According to earlier reports, Inter RAO- Export and Ecuador’s state electricity corporation CELEC signed a contract for the construction of a gas turbine and a steam tubine at the Termogas Machala thermal power plant. When the project is realized, Termogas Machala will be Ecuador’s first thermal plant operating on the combined (gas and steam) cycle, and its designated capacity will be increased by 170 megawatt to reach 300 megawatt.

Termogas Machala is located in Ecuador’s southwestern province El Oro some seven kilometers away from the Pacific coast. Currently, the plant operates two 6FA-type gas turbine units manufactured by GE, with a capacity of 65 megawatt each.

The contract provides for the design works, supplies, construction, assembly and commissioning of an 6FA-type additional gas turbine unit with a capacity of 100 megawatt, the construction of a power transmission line and the extension of the two existing electricity substation on a turn-key terms.

The project cost is estimated at about 230 million U.S. dollars. The project will be financed by CELEC through an export loan from Russia’s Roeximbank on sovereign guarantees of Ecuador.

Inter RAO-Export is a subsidiary of Inter RAO, which specializes in participation in overseas projects for the construction and/or modernization of generating facilities as a supplier of generating equipments. It also works on turn-key electricity plant construction projects.

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