USTDA Sector Brief - Electricity Transmission & Distribution Sector

USTDA advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, reverse trade missions and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development.

During fiscal year 2008, USTDA invested in 28 Electricity Transmission & Distribution projects and activities. The following is an illustrative list of USTDA-supported projects:

East Asia

China Coal Mine Methane (CMM)/Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Power Plant – USTDA approved $502,850 to provide technical assistance on the construction of a 120-megawatt (MW) power plant in Shanxi Province that uses CMM/CBM as a feedstock. The project is being implemented by a partnership involving Chinese coal mining and power utility companies, Caterpillar, Inc., and the Asian Development Bank. The project has generated over $40 million in U.S. exports.

China Southern Power Grid Emergency Management System – USTDA approved $533,682 to assist China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. in implementing and procuring an emergency management system and associated communication equipment for a regional power grid in Southern China. The upgrades will foster greater efficiency and productivity, resulting in a more competitive energy market. Utility Consulting International is the contractor for this assistance.

Europe and Eurasia

Turkey Germencik Geothermal – USTDA provided a $259,621 grant to Gurmat Energy Investment and Trade Co. for a study on a geothermal power plant at Germencik, Turkey. Stone and Webster of the Shaw Group performed the study. Based on the study, a 40 MW power plant was constructed, using more than $23 million in U.S. exports.

Romania Emissions Monitoring and Plant Performance – USTDA provided $271,054 to Termoelectrica, the Romanian state-owned thermal power company, to determine the best plan to upgrade the emissions monitoring and control systems at 21 of their largest power plants. Worely Parsons Group, Inc. of Reading, PA is performing the study.

Serbia Biomass 5 MW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant – USTDA is providing $252,000 for a feasibility study to aid the Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy in developing a biomass CHP plant in Serbia. The study will determine the location, size, and other technical parameters of the plant, which will burn biomass waste to generate heat and electricity. Novi Energy, LLC of Novi, MI is conducting the study.

Kyrgyzstan Datka-Kemin 500kV Transmission Line – USTDA is providing $537,595 to the Ministry of Finance to fund a study for the National Electrical Grid of Kyrgyzstan to reduce overloading on the current 500 kV transmission line linking northern and southern Kyrgyzstan. Auriga Corporation of Milpitas, CA is conducting the study.

Tajikistan Fon Yaghnob Coal-Fired Power Plant – USTDA is providing $875,378 for a feasibility study on the proposed Fon Yaghnob Coal-Fired Power Plant project in Tajikistan. The study will determine the availability and costs of coal supplies at Fon Yaghnob, identify the most efficient mining method, and assess the economic viability of constructing one or more coal-fired thermal power plants at or near Fon Yaghnob. Metallurgical Resources International of Rochester, NY is conducting the study.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Colombia Civil Aviation Renewable Energy – USTDA provided $700,000 to the Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronautica Civil (AeroCivil) to assist in the conversion of its power supply for remote air traffic control and weather monitoring facilities from diesel generators to renewable energy sources. The project will improve the reliability of remote power supply infrastructure, while reducing cost.

Colombia Geothermal Power Generation – USTDA is providing $599,310 to ISAGEN S.A., a leading Colombian power company, to support the development of a 50 MW geothermal power generation project. The study will assist in diversifying Colombia’s energy supply and limiting emissions from carbon-intensive gas and coal.

Costa Rica El Diquis Hydroelectric Power Geotechnical and Financial Analyses – USTDA is providing two grants totaling $500,000 to the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) that will support the geotechnical and financial components, respectively, of a $4 million feasibility study for the El Diquis hydroelectric power project. The project involves the construction of a 631 MW hydroelectric power plant.

Haiti Electricity Generation, Transmission, and Distribution – USTDA provided $350,000 to Electricité d’Haiti (EDH), the state-owned national electric company, to support the development of new investment and priority reconstruction projects for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. EDH will utilize the assistance to set the stage to revitalize and modernize Haiti's electricity infrastructure.

Mexico CFE Environmental Management Project – USTDA is providing $640,500 to Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) to strengthen environmental management at its power plants, substations, and power transmission and distribution facilities.

Uruguay Brazil Electrical Interconnection Project – USTDA provided $490,000 to the National Directorate of Energy and Nuclear Technology to fund analysis, recommendations and software tools with which the Uruguayan government can conclude the structuring of a $200 million electrical interconnection project and carry out its implementation jointly with their Brazilian government counterparts.

Middle East and North Africa

Jordan National Electric Power Company Reactive Compensation and Transmission Loss Reduction – USTDA provided a $158,000 grant to develop a plan to reduce transmission loss and manage reactive power sources for existing transmission lines in Jordan.

Yemen National Rural Electrification Program – USTDA is funding a $515,214 technical assistance program for the Yemen Ministry of Electricity and Energy on the legal and regulatory framework necessary to support a national rural electrification policy throughout Yemen. The TA will culminate in the demonstration of a model electric cooperative to be formed in the Ibb Governorate of Yemen.

South and Southeast Asia

Indonesia Seulawah Agam Geothermal Power Plant – USTDA is providing $589,000 for a study of a proposed geothermal power plant in Aceh Province. Aceh's power generation capabilities were severely damaged during the 2004 earthquakes and tsunami, and the plant could present a reliable, environmentally advantageous method to restore power to the area. Stone & Webster/Shaw Group is the contractor.

Philippines Rural Electrification Financing Project Phases I and II – USTDA provided $404,510 to support the Rural Electrification Financing Corporation’s (REFC) efforts to improve distribution systems and implement associated financing plans for rural electrification operations in the Philippines. This project supported a prior $446,909 USTDA grant to the REFC for technical assistance in providing 40 electric cooperatives with project development assistance for future electric power system investments. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International was selected to perform the technical assistance for both phases.

India North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) Distribution Automation – USTDA is assisting the recently privatized NDPL in reducing electric power losses through the implementation of its Automation Roadmap. The project will be a model for India as it improves the delivery of sufficient and reliable electricity to domestic and industrial users. KEMA was selected to provide the technical assistance.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Cameroon Limbe Gas-to-Electricity Technical Assistance – A $695,000 grant to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources is funding a study on the proposed conversion to gas of an existing 85 MW heavy fuel-oil burning reciprocating power plant and the concomitant green-field construction of a 315 MW combined cycle gas-turbine power plant. In addition, the study will examine the transformer banks and power lines needed to deliver the power generated to the national power grid.

South Africa Coega LNG Regasification and Power Generation Project – USTDA is funding an reverse trade mission to the United States for key decision makers associated with the LNG regasification and power plant project in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The visit will enable the delegates to meet with U.S. suppliers and potential private sector partners.