Support for rural electrification in Oruro

(La Paz, June 28, 2006).- The Andean Development Corporation, through a US$1.6 million loan, is supporting the execution of the South Rural Electrification project which will benefit families in the Salinas de Garci Mendoza municipality of Oruro department. The opening ceremony of the Quillacas substation took place in the presence of departmental and local authorities from Oruro department.

It is estimated that 1,493 Oruro families will benefit from access to the power supply. The Oruro electrification project is part of a much wider program in Bolivia with financial support from CAF, which covers over 120 similar projects around the country for a total investment of US$24.3 million.

Total investment in the project is US$2.2 million with local support from the Oruro Prefecture of US$0.5 million. The executed works include the extension of the AT line and the MT 24.9kv, MT 14.4 kv and BT networks which have installed power of 485 kVA.

Improvements were made to the Avicaya and Quillacas substations for the provision of a reliable power supply 24 hours a day. The power distribution operations will be executed by Empresa de Luz y Fuerza Eléctrica de Oruro, ELFEO SA

The works were executed by the consortium Asociación Accidental “Empresa Constructora Caballero – Obras y Servicios de Ingeniería SRL.” In compliance with the requirements of the National Load Dispatch Center, energization trials and tests were conducted prior to the final handover of the project.

Salinas de Garci Mendoza municipality forms part of Ladislao Cabrera province in Oruro department.