Isolux Corsan Will Construct the Largest Electrical Transmission Line in Kenya

MADRID, June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- The Project, Under Contract With the Public-Sector Company, Ketraco, Will Make it Possible to Upload the Output From The Highest-Capacity Wind-Farm in Africa (300 MW)

- The Company's Backlog Already Includes Several Projects on the African Continent, Worth Some EUR1 bn.

Isolux Corsan has won the tender for the construction of the largest high-voltage electrical transmission line in Kenya and one of the largest in Africa: 428 km long, bearing 400 KV. The EPC contract, signed with the public-sector Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco), under the auspices of the Kenyan Energy Ministry, is for EUR142m.

When built, the project will enable uploading of the power output from the wind-farm with the greatest installed capacity throughout the African continent (300 MW). It is located near to Lake Turkana, and has been developed by the private-equity company, Lake Turkana Wind Power, with support from various financial institutions led by the African Development Bank.

Construction work on the line will begin in the second half of this year, and will take 23 months. Isolux Corsan is scheduling finalisation for the end of 2013.

The new high-voltage line will link the town of Loyangalani, near Lake Turkana, to the town of Suswa, on the outskirts of Nairobi, which will mean that several geothermal plants located along the route will be able to upload their output onto it in the future.

The contract signed with Ketraco is the largest EPC contract that Isolux Corsan has undertaken to date in Africa. It allows the company to become known in one of the fastest growing economic areas in Africa, within the framework of a landmark project, namely the highest-capacity wind-farm in the continent. It will also make it possible for Isolux Corsan to expand its business activity in the area over the next few years.

Isolux Corsan in Africa

The contract signed with Ketraco consolidates Isolux Corsan's business in Africa, where it already has stable operations in eight countries: Angola, Algeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco and Mozambique. Its activity on the African continent contributes 8% of the company's total revenues. The projects underway in Africa, mainly in the energy sector, represent a turnover for Isolux Corsan of over EUR1 billion.

About Isolux Corsan

Isolux Corsan is a major global company in construction, power, concessions and industrial services. It operates in more than 30 countries on 4 continents and is the largest unlisted Spanish group in the construction and public-works sector. Its main growth drivers are concessions for power transmission, toll roads and car parks, as well as the construction of large infrastructure. Isolux Corsan has 3,812 km of power lines in Brazil and the USA. It owns 1,700 km of toll roads in Brazil, India, Mexico and Spain, and has over 21,600 parking spaces under concession. The group has long-standing experience in construction and maintenance of large infrastructure: toll roads, railways, civil engineering works, hydraulic and maritime engineering works and residential and non-residential building. In the power industry, Isolux Corsan is one of the largest construction companies world-wide for EPC (engineering, procurement & construction) projects in the photovoltaic sector, with over 267 MW under operation in 2010. It is a key player amongst the largest companies involved in building EPC power plants, with 1,500 MW under construction. It is also involved in industrial processes, with turnkey projects in the oil & gas industry and biofuel plants. In 2010, the company reported over EUR3.24 bn in revenues, an EBITDA of EUR311m and a backlog of EUR30.18 billion.