Ormat Industries (TASE: ORMT) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Ormat Power Inc., has received a new order from Telefonica de Argentina S.A. for its energy converters to power four microwave repeater sites along the Comodoro Rivadavia -- Ushuaia telecommunications link in Patagonia where the existing link has been expanded.
The initial link began operations in the early 1970s with one analog Thomson CSF radio. Already then, Ormat's energy converters using LPG were used an an energy source for the repeaters located in isolated sites. Thirty three years after their original installation, most of these units are still operational.
The present order totals approximately $400,000. Ormat Technologies chairman and CTO Lucien Bronicki said, "This is a modest order, but it is indicative of our customers' confidence in Ormat's products for their stringent applications, as well as appreciation of Ormat's dedicated long-term service."
The Ormat energy converter is a hermetically sealed closed cycle vapor turbogenerator (CCVT) capable of providing a continuous power supply at remote off-grid sites, such as backbone telecommunication links, cellular phone repeaters, unmanned offshore platforms, oil and gas pipeline cathodic protection, data transmission, and remote control. The energy converter is a fully integrated and tested certified power unit ready-for-installation on site and fuelled by natural gas, LPG, kerosene or diesel fuel.
Ormat noted that as of December 2004, more than 2,400 Ormat energy converters ranging from 200W to 4000W have been supplied to 58 countries. Some of the units have been in continuous operation 24 hours a day for more than 30 years, without overhaul.
Ormat Technologies is primarily engaged in the geothermal and recovered energy power business. The company designs, develops, builds, owns and operates geothermal power plants. The company has operations in the US, Israel, the Philippines, Guatemala, Kenya, and Nicaragua.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Monday, March 28, 2005