LUSAKA, Zambia 2/2/12 (PennWell) -- Alstom has won a contract worth US$26.25 million to provide turbines and generators for the 120-MW Itezhi-Tezhi hydroelectric project.

Chinese engineering firm Sinohydro Corporation Ltd. awarded the bid for the hydropower plant, which will be on the Kafue River in central Zambia.

Work on the $250 million project was finally launched by Zambian president Rupiah Banda in September 2011 after several years of delay. Construction is expected to be complete by 2015.

As per the contract, Alstom will supply two 60-MW Kaplan turbine and generator units, along with other equipment, including the main inlet valve and governing and excitation systems. Alstom is also responsible for supervising site installation and commissioning.

The contract for the entire project was awarded to Sinohydro on a turnkey basis by Itezhi-Tehzi Power Corporation Ltd (ITPC). ITPC is a joint-venture between Indian business group Tata and the state-owned Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Ltd (Zesco).

Currently, about 1,880 MW of Zambia's 1,970 MW of installed electrical capacity comes from hydroelectric sources, Alstom says.