Belo Monte hydropower plant. Image credit: Roney Santana (Norte Energia Collection)

GE Renewable Energy’s hydropower business has signed a five-year contract with Norte Energia covering the full scope of routine, planned and corrective maintenance at the 11.233GW Belo Monte hydropower plant and its complementary 233MW Pimental powerhouse.

Belo Monte, on the Xingu River in Para State, began dispatching electricity to Brazil’s grid in April 2016. The Belo Monte power plant is the largest hydropower plant in Brazil and the fourth largest in the world, according to a release. The amount of energy generated is sufficient to meet the electricity needs of 60 million people.

The contract covers all maintenance work for a total of 24 power generation units. Eighteen of them are at Belo Monte and another six are at Pimental, located just a few kilometers from the main Belo Monte plant.

Ensuring the proper maintenance of the Belo Monte project will help make the best use of its assets and resources to generate clean, affordable and reliable energy for millions of Brazilians, GE Renewable Energy said. To execute the contract, GE Renewable Energy will assemble a team of professionals with expertise in mechanical, electrical, planning, health and safety, administration, and project management.

“GE’s experience in the maintenance of large-scale assets, our digital technologies and services, and the fact that we are also a manufacturer put us in a unique position to add value on this important project,” said Pascal Radue, chief executive officer of GE Renewable Energy’s hydro division.

GE Renewable Energy was previously selected to supply equipment and solutions for the construction and installation of the plants.

GE Renewable Energy, an integral part of the GE Vernova portfolio of energy businesses, provides end-to-end solutions for customers demanding reliable and affordable green power. GE Vernova — comprised of the Power, Renewable Energy, Digital and Energy Financial Services businesses — focuses on supporting customers’ transformations during the global energy transition.