Finland-based Wärtsilä has won an equipment supply contract for a 378MW Flexicycle power plant in El Salvador from Energía del Pacífico.

The €240m contract entitles the Finnish technology giant to deliver equipment for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) fired power plant, which is expected to be completed by 2018.

Energía del Pacífico managing director Alejandro Alle said: “One of the reasons why we selected Wärtsilä technology was the high reliability offered by Wärtsilä’s multi-unit Flexicycle solution.”

The dry Flexicycle technology features a closed loop cooling system, which can eliminate water usage for cooling purposes. This makes the solution suitable in a country such as El Salvador, which has been coping with one of the worst droughts in 40 years.

Once developed, the plant is claimed to be the largest and most efficient power plant in the North American country and is expected to bring down electricity prices in the region.

It will be equipped with 19 Wärtsilä 50SG engines and a combined cycle steam turbine, which can promise fuel efficiency of up to 50%.

Wärtsilä Energy Solutions business development manager Raúl Carral said: “This landmark project will produce the cleanest thermal energy in El Salvador, and it will lower the price of electricity in the country.”

El Salvador generates about 1600MW of power, 50% of which is based on oil.

Wärtsilä Energy Solutions regional director Sampo Suvisaari said: “This project proves that LNG can be imported into a relatively small country, and to a mid-sized power plant in a well-designed LNG-to-power project.”

Last year, Energia del Caribe picked the Finnish firm to deliver a 139MW Flexicycle power plant in Mexico.

To be equipped with seven 50SG gas engines and a combined cycle, the plant is expected to start operations in 2016.