Capanda
Location: Angola
Operator: Gabinete de Aproveitamento do Medio Kwanza
Configuration: 4 X 130 MW Francis
Operation: 2004-2007
T/G supplier: LMZ, Electrosila
EPC: Odebrecht, Furnas, COBA, Technopromexport
Quick facts: Capanda is Angola’s largest-ever civil engineering project and is on the Rio Kwanza at the border of Kwanza-Norte and Malanje provinces. Development started in 1982 and, with $750mn from oil sales, Odebrecht, Furnas, and TPE started on the project in Jan 1985 with operation scheduled in 1991. This soon slipped to Dec 1993 and the plant site was occupied by UNITA from Nov 1992 until Dec 1994. Then the 110m dam was damaged and rehabilitation did not start until 1998, a process interrupted by another attack in 1999. Construction re-started in Jan 2000. At one point, there were 3,000 workers mobilized at the site. A 2,000m aircraft runway was built along with power, potable water, and sewage facilities. Reservoir filling began in late Aug 2002 and the first two units were finally commissioned in June 2004 followed by Units 3&4 in June 2007. The plant is connected to the substation at Cambambe via a 120km, 220kV transmission line which cost $218mn. The cost of war damage to the project is estimated to be at least $400mn and the total project cost is thought to be around $2.6bn.

Photograph by Eribeto (wikipedia)
Re-posted 30 Aug 2008

Luachimo
Location: Angola
Operator: Empresa Nacional de Diamantes de Angola
Configuration: 4 X 2.1 MW Francis
Operation: 1957
T/G supplier: ??
Quick facts: This plant on the Rio Luachimo is near Dundo in Lunda-Norte. The scheme has a 6,.5m dam, a 660m concrete-lined canal, four 2.5m penstocks, and the powerhouse. The plant is scheduled for rehabilitation.

Photograph courtesy of COBA
Posted 24 Oct 2010

Ruacana
Location: Namibia
Operator: NamPower
Configuration: 3 X 80 MW Francis
Operation: 1980
T/G supplier: Voest, WHC
Quick facts: This the most important power plant in Namibia. After about five years of complex political negotiations, construction started in May 1973 The power station is situated at the Ruacana Waterfalls on the Kunene River which is regulated by a series of dams in Angola, most importantly the Gove Dam in the Angolan highlands approximately 1,000km northeast of the plant site. The powerhouse operates with a 134m head.