Power engineering firm eyes expanding
By Zhang Yixuan (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-04-30 09:33

Harbin Power Engineering Company Ltd (HPE) has gained more confidence about expanding its market share at home and abroad since it successfully won contracts to install eight hydraulic turbine generators for the Three Gorges Dam.

Last month, the Three Gorges Dam Project signed several purchase contracts for 12 generators, valued at 4.5 billion yuan (US$544 million).

Two Chinese companies, namely Dongfang Electrical Machinery Co Ltd and Harbin Electrical Machinery Co Ltd, won the contracts for eight and will do the design and manufacturing. HPE will be fully responsible for their installation.

It is the first time that Chinese companies tendered successfully for the design and production of such large hydraulic turbine generators.

All of the 12 generators will be commissioned in 2007 and 2008.

"Since our establishment, we have never stopped tapping the international market and we have obtained several international tenders with reasonable price and satisfactory programmes," said HPE's general manager, Qu Zhe.

HPE, together with Harbin Electrical Machinery Co Ltd, is affiliated to Harbin Power Plant Equipment Corporation.

Established in 1983, it mainly undertakes the construction of related equipment or facilities for power stations.

In 1996, the company obtained the ISO9001 Quality Certification.

So far it has undertaken 15 projects for power stations throughout the world, including Pakistan, Viet Nam, Iran and the Sudan, creating export value of more than US$1 billion.

The company has also co-operated with transnational giants such as GE and ABB in project construction, which has contributed to its experience.

"In addition to the Three Gorges Dam project, the State's determination to rejuvenate Northeast China is also good news for us," Qu said.

The company is also expected to play a prominent role in China's project to transmit electricity from the west to the east.

According to Qu, HPE will be fully engaged in various contracted projects by the end of 2006.

"HPE has the ability to undertake five to six large or medium-sized projects at the same time," he added.

The company has established a local-area network to ensure instant and efficient internal information exchange.

There are all together 26 hydraulic turbine generators to be designed for the Three Gorges Dam, fixed on both banks of the dam.

The 14 generators on the left bank were contracted to two transnational groups, who also subcontracted work to Chinese companies as well as transferring key technologies.

Through subcontracting and taking part in design and manufacturing work, the Chinese companies have attained great improvement in skill levels.

Six of the generators on the left bank are now working. Their performance is of world class.

Close