ICE to Re-Launch Garabito Thermo Project Bidding
Costa Rica's state power company, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) said it will re-launch bidding to build the Garabito thermo project, said an ICE project official.

ICE took the decision after failing to reach a definitive price agreement with Japan's Hitachi, the official said.

ICE had originally awarded the contract to Spain's Abener Energía in 2004 but cancelled it over alleged irregularities and gave the contract to runner-up Hitachi instead.

The official said bidding will take place in a closed process starting around July with the idea of awarding the contract in September.

Under the new process, Garabito's capacity will be 160 Mega Watts instead of 120 Mega Watts and will boast medium-velocity bunker fueled motors instead of the originally envisioned diesel turbines, the official said.

Construction of Garabito, which will be built in Puntarenas province, will take 18-20 months to complete. The project will cost some US$160 million dollars.