HOCHTIEF secures 531MW hydropower plant contract in Chile

German construction services company HOCHTIEF Solutions has agreed to construct the 531MW Alto Maipo hydropower plant in Chile, in collaboration with a partner.

Owned by the Chilean energy utility AES Gener, the project is located near Santiago at a height of roughly 2,500m.

HOCHTIEF expects to begin construction of the plant in 2013, which includes two construction areas in the Andes.

The project is scheduled to finish in 2017 at an estimated to cost €215m, where HOCHTIEF will share nearly €150m of the investment.

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 in Peru.

The company has already completed construction of the La Confluencia hydropower plant 2011 and the Cheves hydropower plant is currently under construction.