MOROCCO AWARDS CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPED STORAGE HYDROELECTRIC PLANT

VINCI Construction company to build pumped storage hydroelectric plant in Morocco.

The Moroccan government has awarded the contract to construct a US$346m pumped storage hydroelectric plant (PSP), near Agadir to a French-based company VINCI Construction company.

The project which is part of the development and integration plan for renewable energies, includes execution studies, civil engineering works, supply and transfer of equipment, assembly, testing and commissioning of the station.

The civil engineering works will include the excavation of two basins, the digging of the production plant installed on the hillside, the installation of the transfer pipe over 3km, of which 1km is buried.

For access and future operations of the site, new roads will be created and several old ones will have to be rehabilitated.

The electromechanical equipment, supported by Andritz Hydro, includes two 175MW Francis turbines, which were specially developed in the company’s laboratory.

The Project within 48 months will provide about 840 jobs of which  780 will be awarded to locals. A training programme will be set up to guarantee the safety and quality of the construction site.