Alto Maipo SpA, a subsidiary of the Chilean-based AES Gener and the US-based AES Corporation, part of the Chilean tunnelling division of Strabag SE has secured a EUR385,2 million (USD 490 million) design and build contract for the majority of the tunneling and civil works of the Alto Maipo Hydroelectrical Power Plant, located 50 km southeast of Santiago, in the high Maipo River basin of the municipal district of San José de Maipo. This area is situated in the Andes close to the Argentinean border with peaks up to 6,500 m. The Alto Maipo project includes the two hydroelectric plants Alfalfal II and Las Lajas for a total of 531MW. 46.5km of tunnel and shafts will be excavated by drill and blast as well as by tunnel boring machines. The design and construction period starts in November 2012 and will last for about four and a half years. Visit www.strabag.com. 46/12.
