Page 29 - Energize May 2021

TECHNICAL

Power developments in Africa

Compiled by Roger Lilley, Now Media

Mini-grids aid the community Nachtigal hydroelectric project

Solar energy provider PowerGen Renewable Energy is commissioning mini-grids in four The 420 MW Nachtigal Hydroelectric
communities in Sierra Leone. With a total capacity of 150 kWp, the solar mini-grids are located Project, including roller compacted concrete
in Baoma Koya, Sumbuya, Gorahun and Gegbwema. These installations consist of solar panels, dams, a headrace channel, a power plant
inverters and battery storage systems. The new installations benefit households, health care with seven generating units, a generation
facilities, and schools. PowerGen is expected to make 12 500 new connections, of which substation and a transmission line, is
approximately 85% will be allocated to households and 15% to micro, small and medium to be constructed on the central course
enterprises and public facilities such as schools and clinics. For its mini-grid electrification of Sanaga River, 65 km north east from
project in Sierra Leone, PowerGen has received support from a programme funded by the UK Yaoundé in Cameroon. This strategic
Department for International Development (DFID) and implemented by the United Nations Office project for Cameroon is developed by the
for Project Services (UNOPS). Cameroonian project company, Nachtigal
Hydro Power Company (NHPC) whose
shareholders are the Republic of Cameroon,
Tender for new hydroelectric dam New coal-fired power plant Electricité de France (EDF), International
expected Finance Corporation (IFC), STOA and
A thermal coal mine and 300 MW power AFRICA50.
Mozambique will publish a call for tenders plant is being developed through a joint
for the construction of the 1500 MW venture of Ncondezi Energy, CMEC and
Mpanda Nkuwa hydroelectric dam soon. General Electric. It will be located in the Solar power serves Africa well,
The tender would require institutions to carry Tete Province of northern Mozambique says IRENA
out environmental, market, hydrological, to supply electricity to the Northern Grid.
geotechnical and financial impact studies First power is expected between the end of
Solar energy in Africa, where about
for the construction of the project. This 2023 and the beginning of 2024. The power
600-million people are without access to
hydroelectric dam will be situated 60 km station’s design allows it to be increased to
grid electricity, keeps the lights on and
downstream from on the Zambesi River, and six times its iniial capacity, up to 1800 MW
the Covid-19 vaccine frozen. According
will be the largest dam in Mozambique after in the future. The main contractor is China
to the International Renewable Energy
Cahora Bassa. Construction should begin in Machinery Engineering, and the power off-
Agency (IRENA), as many as 30 countries
2024 and take seven years, an official said. taker will be Electricidade de Mocambique.
in Africa have electricity outages because
supply lags demand. The reliability of the
grid is a major issue in Nigeria and many
Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline planned
other parts of Africa. That means that
expensive and highly polluting on-site
This ambitious pipeline will stretch from Nigeria all along the west coast of Africa to Morocco.
diesel generators are used not only for
More than 5 000 kilometres long with an estimated cost north of 25 billion dollars, the pipeline will
backup power but are often the principal
not only create thousands of jobs but open an entirely new market and offer other countries the
source of power. Rooftop solar is capable
opportunity to export gas to regional markets. The gas will provide feedstock for new power plants
of meeting most people’s needs.
to address current power shortages and improve the low access to power rates. The project will
significantly impact the region once completed.
Busanga hydropower dam
Mambilla hydropower project Kinshasa Solar City PV The Democratic Republic of Congo is
moving ahead with the construction
The Mambilla hydropower project is a Kinshasa Solar City PV is being developed of the Busanga 240 MW hydroelectric
3 GW hydroelectric facility being developed near Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of dam project in the Katanga region. The
on the Dongo River near Baruf, in Kakara Congo (DRC) by The Sandi Group. The project will be built by the Sino-Congolese
Village of Taraba State, Nigeria. Expected to 1000 MW solar project will consist of two Hydroelectric Company (Sycohydro). Four
commence operation in 2030, Mambilla will phases. The first phase will have a capacity villages in the area will be evacuated to
be Nigeria’s biggest power plant, producing of 600 MW, while the second phase will make way for the project. Although there
approximately 4,7 billion kWh of electricity have a capacity of 400 MW. Sunplus is has been some controversy over the
a year. The facility will comprise four dams the primary contractor on Phase 1, and evacuation of the villages, the government
and two underground powerhouses having Societe Nationale d’Electricite (SNEL) as insists that the project will revive the
12 turbine generator units in total. Two the off taker. SNEL is the national electricity country’s economy and improve the
6 km-long tailrace tunnels for the plant will company of the DRC and operates the Inga well-being of the DRC’s population. The
be of 8 m diameter each, while the tailrace Dam facility on the Congo River, and it also Busanga hydropower dam project has a
canal will be 3 km long and 25 m wide. operates thermal power stations. budget for construction of US$660-million.

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