Wärtsilä wins 5-year operations and maintenan...

Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade and Technical Press release, 17 December
2008

Wärtsilä, a leading supplier of flexible power plants for the
decentralized power generation market, has been awarded an operations
and maintenance (O&M) contract by an Argentinean power plant
customer. This agreement relates to a power plant currently being
installed by Wärtsilä.

The operations and maintenance contract has been agreed for a period
of five years. Under the contract Wärtsilä will operate and maintain
the power plant, which is being installed for the Mina Pirquitas
mining project in the province of Jujuy, in the north of Argentina.

Wärtsilä is currently supplying equipment and engineering for this
new baseload power plant, which will provide electricity for the
mining activities. The delivery includes three Wärtsilä 18V34SG
engines, which run on natural gas and have a total output of 15 MW.

Wärtsilä has already supplied Argentinean customers with power plants
that produce a total of 51 MW of electrical power.

In commenting on this latest order, Tomas Hakala, President of
Wärtsilä in Latin America,  said: "This is a valuable order, and one
that represents a further endorsement of Wärtsilä's ability to
provide the right solutions in a variety of climates and operating
conditions around the world. The power plant for the Mina Pirquitas
project will be operating at an altitude of 4500 metres, and our
proven success at meeting the challenge of high altitude operations
was a key to being awarded this contract."

Wärtsilä power generating solutions for industry

Energy-intensive industries can, in many cases, improve their
competitiveness through reducing energy costs by producing
electricity for their own needs in a local captive power plant. In
some areas of the world, this also improves reliability of supply
because of the inherently unstable grid conditions.

Wärtsilä's gas-driven power plants offer high reliability, price
stability, and independence from fluctuating grid conditions. They
provide very rapid start-up, and consistent performance throughout
varying ambient conditions, while meeting today's increasingly
stringent air quality requirements. There are to date more than 3300
Wärtsilä engines under delivery or already installed in more than
1700 power plants for the industrial self-generation segment,
producing more than 12 GWe.

Wärtsilä's comprehensive O&M programme enables the plant owner to
focus on the company's core business, knowing that Wärtsilä is able
to ensure optimal plant performance. The O&M coverage is available
for the complete operational lifecycle, from receiving fuel to
supplying energy. Wärtsilä operates 132 installations in 34
countries, supplying some 3800 MW of power.


Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them
with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and
environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the
marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as
services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out
to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is
achieved by the dedication of over 18,000 professionals manning 160
locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the
Nordic Exchange in Helsinki, Finland.

www.wartsila.com

For further information, please contact:

Maria Nystrand
Public Relations Manager, Power Plants
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]


This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is 
solely responsible for the content of this announcement.