China's State Grid wins Brazil's longest transmission concession

State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) has won a tender process to develop the ±800kV Belo Monte Hydropower UHV transmission project (Phase 2) in Brazil.

The firm has successfully won a 30-year concession right. The company beat out copetition from Eletrobras and Abengoa. SGCC also won the 1st phase of the Belo Monte projectin 2013.

The Phase 2 represents the SGCC’s first overseas EPC project, including investment, EPC and operation. It is the delivery project of Brazil’s second largest hydropower station Belo Monte hydropower project with an installed capacity of 11 GW, which will construct a 2,518 km-long ±800 kV UHV DC transmission line, convertor stations at both ends, and other auxiliary projects with a capacity of 4GW.

The project investment exceeds US$2.2 billion. It is expected to be operational by 2020 with the return on investment estimated about 14%.

So far, SGCC has invested in and operated the backbone energy networks in 6 countries and regions including Philippines, Brazil, Portugal, Australia, Italy, and Hong Kong and been in charge of the construction of several large grid projects in other countries.