USA

Black and Veatch is to provide engineering, procurement and construction services for Sempra Energy Resources' 1200 MW Mesquite power plant near Phoenix, Arizona. The engineering and construction phases of the $500 million project will be performed by a joint venture of BVZ Power Partners (involving Black and Veatch), Overland Contracting Inc and Zachry Construction Corp.

The Mesquite power station will be situated on a site around 64 km west of Phoenix, in Arlington. When completed in 2004, it will provide power to up to 350 000 customers in the Pacific Southwest. the Phoenix metropolitan area is currently experiencing a 6 per cent annual growth rate. The gas-fired plant will feature two combined cycle blocks, each with two GE PG7241FA gas turbine generators and a single GE tandem compound reheat double flow steam turbine. The plant will be tied into the Palo Verde nuclear station's Hassayampa switchyard, the major grid serving the western USA. Partial operation is due in the summer of 2003, with full operation scheduled for January 2004.