03/21/2012

(March 7, 2012) – The reconstruction work continues in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in January 2010.  Wärtsilä generating sets have been selected to expand an existing power station to add much needed capacity. Delivery is being made during 2012 on a fast-track basis.

Wärtsilä, a global supplier of flexible and efficient power plant solutions, has been awarded the contract to supply the generating sets for an extension to an existing power plant in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The extension will add some 17 MW of electricity generating capacity to the Varreux power plant, which will help ease the power shortage in a country still recovering from the devastating  earthquake in 2010. At present the entire grid is receiving less than 200 MW of power.

The order has been placed by Société Générale d'Enérgie S.A. (Sogener), Haiti's first private power generation company, established in 2002. The scope of supply consists of two 20-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 generator sets together with auxiliaries, engineering, and supervision of the installation.  The engines will be delivered during 2012 on a fast-track basis, and the new power generating facilities are scheduled to be fully operational by early 2013.

"It is gratifying to be involved in a project related to Haiti's reconstruction. There is a lack of electricity generating capacity in the country, and this new facility will help the Haitian people by reducing blackouts.  Wärtsilä's ability to respond to this need with a fast-track delivery, as well as the efficiency and reliability of the engines themselves, were key reasons for Wärtsilä winning this contract," says Sampo Suvisaari, General Manager, Central America and the Caribbean, Wärtsilä Power Plants.

Wärtsilä provides complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2011, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 4.2 billion with approximately 18,000 employees. The company has operations in nearly 170 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.