(AGI) Rome, Oct. 15 - An international consortium, includingthe Italian Astaldi Group, has been awarded two contracts forthe construction of the first two phases of the Upper CisokanHydroelectric Project on the Island of Java, Indonesia. Thedeal is worth about 234 million dollars, of which 30 percentbelongs to Astaldi. The contracts are in line with Astaldi'sstrategy of geographical diversification, outlined in thegroup's business plan, and for medium- and long-term growth.The Upper Cisokan project is one of the most important to datein the hydroelectric sector and is funded by the World Bank.The project is being developed by Indonesian utility company PTPLN Persero. The works will be carried out in a joint venturewith South Korean builder Daelim Industrial Co. (leader with 40percent) and Indonesia's WIKA (30 percent). The consortium willbuild the Upper and Lower Dam (respectively 75 and 98 metreshigh), which will have a total volume of 1,000,000 cubic metresof Roller Compacted Concrete. The plant will pump water fromthe Lower to the Upper Dam at night. During the daytime,electricity will be generated when the water flows back. Theinstallation has a capacity of 1.040MW. The work also includes:the construction of the intake and outlet; six kilometres oftunnels (with a diameter of up to 10 meters); a central tunnel26 metres wide, 51 metres high and 156 meters long; theventilation system; and an electrical substation. The works areto be executed in 50 months, with start-up in early 2016. Thenew project once again confirms the experience gained by theAstaldi Group in the areas of hydroelectric and undergroundprojects. The group currently ranks among the top 10contractors worldwide for their revenue generated in the sectorof hydroelectric plants. (AGI). .