MORRISTOWN, N.J., Sept. 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Louis Berger, the company contracted for design and construction of the Satala power plant in Pago Pago, America Samoa, and the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) broke ground on the project on September 12. Both the power generation and plant facility contracts are together valued at $48 million.
The Satala power plant witnessed a loss of 23 MW diesel generation capacity, due to a destructive tsunami in September 2009, and was previously responsible for 60 percent of Pago Pago's power generation. The contract, awarded by ASPA, is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) three-tiered approach to recover the lost capacity. The initial phases of the plan involved the use of temporary generation equipment to supply power, while the new power plant was engineered, procured and constructed.
As part of the third and final phase of the plan, Louis Berger was awarded an equipment contract last year to purchase and install a 24.5 MW power plant at the Satala site, utilizing General Electric generator sets manufactured in Erie, Penn. The current project to design and construct the power plant facility, combined with the equipment contract, will result in a complete turnkey replacement.
"Louis Berger's global expertise designing, constructing and operating power systems will help ensure that the Satala Power Plant exceeds ASPA's expectations for low cost operation, reliability and reduced emissions over the project's lifetime," said Frank Jordano, P.E., president of Louis Berger Power, LLC. "Consequently this is also a tremendous opportunity to aid in the economic growth and development for the people of American Samoa."
Construction completion is anticipated in January 2016, with final power plant commissioning and turnover slated for spring 2016.
Louis Berger is a developer, executor and operator of turnkey power generation and distribution solutions where reliable commercial power is unavailable and fast, immediate or remote power is required. Focused on emerging and frontier markets, small islands and remote sites to deliver a complete power solution from design to installation to ongoing operations, the company's Power LLC is targeting growth in non-OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, specifically in Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean.
Louis Berger
Louis Berger is a $1 billion global professional services corporation that helps infrastructure and development clients solve their most complex challenges. We are a trusted partner to national, state and local government agencies; multilateral institutions; and commercial industry clients worldwide. By focusing on client needs to deliver quality, safe, financially-successful projects with integrity, we are committed to deliver on our promise to provide Solutions for a better world.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=27722
