KEPCO signs power line consulting contract with African electricity body

Jul 24, 2007 - Asia Pulse Data Source

South Korea's power corporation said Monday it has won two consulting contracts for the building of electricity lines in western Africa.

The US$2.46 million deal between Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and the West African Power Pool calls for feasibility, basic construction and environmental impact studies on the proposed power line linking Benin, Ghana and Mali.

The 225-kilovolt power line will span roughly 800 kilometers.

The power pool, an organization under the Economic Community Of West African States, is aimed at expanding regional cooperation to facilitate the buildup of electricity infrastructure. Its membership consists of 14 West African countries.

KEPCO said it took part in the international bidding process in May, beating rivals from Germany and France. The project is being financed with money from the Luxembourg-based European Investment Bank.

It said this is the second power consulting deal won by the power company since the 2005 electricity master plan deal for Cambodia.

The contracts place the company in a good position to compete for similar deals for a 300-kilovolt line being supported by the World Bank for the Ghana power line as well as a 225-kilovolt Ghana-Burkina Faso electrical power project.

KEPCO senior vice president Moon Ho and Joseph Makoju, chairman of the African power cooperative, signed the contract.

---