China

Under a $9.8 million contract from Zhejiang Provincial Power Company ABB is to install new electricity distribution centres in the southeastern China cities of Hangzhou and Ningbo. The contract is to install IT systems and software for two new control centres to coordinate the flow of power in distribution areas with peak loads exceeding 2000 MWe. The population in these two regions is growing by 20 per cent annually.

Tianjin Alstom Hydro (TAH) is to supply the complete electromechanical equipment for Zi Gang La Ka 4x38 MWe hydropower station, located in Qinghai province in northwest China. The contract is worth $9.8 million. The scope of supply includes 4 Bulb turbines, generators, governing systems, excitation systems and control systems. The first unit is expected to start operation in the second part of 2004. TAH is a joint venture formed in 1995 between Alstom (77 per cent) and Tianjin Power Equipment Manufacture Co (23 per cent).