Dessau-Soprin set to light up rural Peru for $240 million

Montreal consulting engineers Dessau-Soprin signed a Memorandum of Understanding on May 8 with Peru’s Ministry of Energy and Mines for the design and construction of a rural electrification project worth Cdn. $240 million. The document was signed as part of a trade visit led by the Quebec government.

The project will provide electricity to 1,800 communities representing half a million people. Expected to be completed over four years, the project’s technical, commercial and financial details still have to be worked out before the project is officially launched, but it will likely include 624 km of power lines (highvoltage), eight substations and 33 distribution lines (lower voltage) totalling 4,409 km.Export Development Canada (EDC) and other government organizations are being asked to help make the project possible.

The official signing of the Memorandum by Jean-Pierre Sauriol, P.Eng., CEO of Dessau-Soprin and Peruvian officials was held at the Presidential Palace in the presence of Qubec Premier, Bernard Landry and the President of Peru, Alejandro Toledo.

Dessau-Soprin has had a permanent office in Peru for several years and has done a number of projects in the energy field in the country. The company is one of Qubec’s largest engineering-construction firms, with over 1,200 engineers and specialists.