ESB International (ESBI), the consultancy and engineering wing of the ESB, has won a contract worth $5 million (€4.2 million) to build two hydro electric power plants in Guatemala in Central America.

The power stations are being built in association with the European manufacturing group, Sulzer. They are situated north-east of Guatemala city and will provide a significant amount of electricity for the country.

This is the latest contract won by the engineering construction division of ESBI which contributes more than £20 million of revenue each year to its parent. ESBI has already combined with Sulzer to win the contract to design and build a 150 megawatt hydro station in Iceland.

The engineering design for the plants in Guatemala has begun in Dublin and the project is scheduled for completion early in 2000.

In addition ESBI has recently secured two building contracts in Britain worth £2.3 million (€2.92 million).