Alstom said April 10 that it and Isolux have signed a contract with Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to convert two 158-MW units at the Altamira thermoelectric power station.
The units, which currently run on fuel oil, will be converted to petroleum coke units. The conversion will substantially reduce the plant’s operating costs given that petcoke is significantly cheaper than fuel oil. This is the first project in the country where such a fuel switch is being executed, Alstom noted. Petcoke is an oil refinery byproduct.
The project includes designing, engineering, equipment manufacturing and set-up, electromechanical and civil works, as well as rehabilitation and modernization controls that will extend operating life by 30 additional years. Alstom will supply two circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) boilers, while Isolux will be the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractor.
This conversion project is aligned with the 2013-2027 Mexican Energy Strategy, which aims to generate cleaner power in the country by making thermoelectric power plants more efficient. The conversion will take 45 months to complete and will create more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.
“The combination of Alstom’s proven technology and Isolux’s experience will enable us to contribute to a more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable solution,” said Andreas Lusch, Senior Vice President of Alstom’s Steam business.
During nearly five decades of Alstom’s presence in Mexico, the company has installed over 11,000 MW of power generation equipment in the country, which represents almost 20% of the country’s total power capacity.
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies.
Isolux Corsán Group is a multinational company and a leader in energy, construction, concessions and maintenance of major infrastructure, operating in 38 countries.
