BIZCHINA / Overseas Investment

Alstom increases investment in power
By Wan Zhihong (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-13 15:15

The runner is a core component for the hydro turbine.

With a height of 4.9 metres, a diameter of 10.9 metres and a weight of 460 tons, the runner is a part of Alstom's 2004 contract to supply four hydro turbine and generator units for the Three Gorges Right Bank. Altogether 12 such hydro turbine and generator units are to be installed at the Right Bank.

"In order to provide the equipment, Alstom's subsidiary Tianjin Alstom Hydro Co Ltd has built a special runner workshop on the Three Gorges site. 

This workshop has made it possible to manufacture this type of runner with a new world record in terms of size," said Anders Maltesen, general manager of Tianjin Alstom Hydro Co Ltd.

Alstom has established a long-term strategic partnership with CTGPC for the Three Gorges Project, supplying 8 out of the total 14 hydro turbine generator units installed at the Three Gorges Left Bank. These units have now been successfully put into operation.

Besides thermal power and hydropower, in the nuclear power sector the generation equipment produced by Alstom has accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the Chinese market, said Joubert.

"China is a strategic partner of Alstom, rather than a sales market.  Alstom will make more effort in China's ambitious blueprint to develop its electric power," said Alain Berger, president of Alstom China.

The company has built up a total of eight joint ventures in China.

"The company, which experienced difficulties in past years, has made a successful turnaround toward profitability by achieving its recovery plan. Now the company is in a position to enter the profitable growth stage," said Joubert.

"In the first nine months of this fiscal year our orders in China have reached 1.5 billion euros (US$3.9 billion)," Berger said.


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