Germany-based construction services company HOCHTIEF Solutions and a collaborating partner will construct the 531MW Alto Maipo hydropower plant in Chile.
Construction of the hydropower plant is estimated to entail a total cost of €215m and HOCHTIEF will share nearly €150m of it.
Located near Santiago, the project is under the ownership of the Chilean energy utility AES Gener and HOCHTIEF expects to begin construction of the plant in 2013 with completion set for 2017.
The project includes two construction areas in the Andes at a height of roughly 2,500m and construction encompasses intake structures, 18.5km of tunneling and a 5km-long steel pipeline.
HOCHTIEF executive board member Ullrich Reinke stated, “With our know-how and our experienced co-workers in tunneling and power plant construction, we make a major contribution to sustainable energy supplies in high-growth markets.”
This project marks the third contract for the company in the South African energy infrastructure segment after the La Confluencia hydroelectric power plant in Chile and the Cheves hydropower plant under construction in Peru.