BC Hydro has received a go-ahead from the British Columbia Utilities Commission for upgrades at the 114-MW Ruskin powerhouse and dam.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has awarded a contract worth about US$30 million for rehabilitation work at the 1,250-MW Castaic hydropower facility.

Work at a 119-year-old hydropower plant will allow the facility to continue functioning as originally designed, says energy control company Encorp LLC.

Power and automation group ABB has received orders worth about US$20 million to refurbish generators at two Axpo-managed hydroelectric facilities.

Jeffrey Chain L.P. has won a contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for work at the 100-MW Old Hickory hydroelectric plant.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a contract worth US$41,000 to General Power Engineering Associates Inc. for work at the 320-MW Fort Randall hydroelectric project.

Vattenfall will invest about US$1.93 billion into modernizing and increasing production in its hydroelectric plants until 2013, the European energy conglomerate announces.

The 111-year-old Stuyvesant Falls hydroelectric plant is on the verge of reactivation as an eight-year rehabilitation project draws to a close, sources report.

Recent leaking at Nigeria's 760-MW Kainji hydroelectric plant has led the country's government to shut the facility down indefinitely and reaffirm its commitment to rehabilitating and improving it, sources report.

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development has approved a US$400 million fixed spread loan for use on Pakistan's Tarbela IV Extension hydropower project.

BC Hydro has taken the next step toward a US$1.35 billion overhaul of its 126-MW John Hart Generating Station.

Alstom Power Inc., has been awarded a US$12 million contract by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the replacement of turbine runners and overhaul units at the Trinity hydroelectric project.

State utility Latvenergo AS has awarded a contract to Sweco for work at the Plavinas and Kegums 2 hydroelectric plants.

RusHydro's JSC Institute Hydroproject has begun designing an all-inclusive modernization project of the 458-MW Kamskaya hydroelectric project.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a contract worth US$776,234 to Pick Electric Inc. for work at the 42.6-MW Albeni Falls hydroelectric project in Idaho.