Fichtner to supervise Péligre plant revamp

German engineering and consulting firm Fichtner will supervise the overhaul of state utility Eléctricité d'Haïti's (EDH) 54MW Péligre hydroelectric plant, an IDB spokesperson told BNamericas. The bank announced it approved a US$20mn grant to complete and supplement financing needed to refurbish the country's largest renewable energy facility. The 54MW plant operates at below half capacity, which means increased use of thermo generation. IDB already approved US$12.5mn for the project, along with US$13.7mn from German development agency KfW and US$15mn from the OPEC Fund for International Development. Bidding for the work is complete but a result has yet to be released, said the official, who added Péligre is expected to return to full capacity in 2015. The revamp is due to begin next year and includes rehabilitating the plant's three turbines, electromechanical equipment, communications and control systems, the insulation of its alternators, an external substation and alarm systems.