The three turbine-generators are to be commissioned over 2010-11 under a contract worth more than US$140M. Each Francis unit will have a capacity of 260MW.
The turbine contract was awarded in the third quarter of 2007 and work on the units began last November.
Eastmain 1-A is being developed by Hydro-Quebec and its subsidiary Societe d’Energie de la Baie James (SEBJ) on the Eastmain river, in Quebec province. The project is part of a wider scheme that will see flow from the Rupert river diverted into the watershed.
The project follows the power utility building the 480MW Eastmain 1 project over 2002-07, at which before-and-after greenhouse gas (GHG) studies are underway at the reservoir. The three 160MW units for the project were contracted to Alstom.
Dr Rolan Munch has taken over as chaiman of Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation from Dr Hubert Lienhard, who has become president and chief executive of the Voith group.
