Imboulou
Location: Congo Republic
Operator: Societe Nationale d'Energie
Configuration: 4 X 30 MW Kaplan
Operation: 2011
T/G supplier: CMEC
EPC: CMEC, Tianjin Investigation, Design and Research Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower, Dessau, Fichtner, Delegation Generale des Grands Travaux
Quick facts: In Aug 2001, CMEC signed a $236mn contract with SNE to build Imboulou 200km north of Brazzaville in Pool Dept. This was the largest bilateral trade deal ever between the two countries as well as China’s biggest hydroelectric plant export to Africa to that date. CMEC partnered with China International Enterprise Cooperative Corp on the deal. Financing is by oil-backed credit loans from the Export-Import Bank of China. In Mar 2003, the government and CMEC signed further agreements for the project, by then expected to cost $280mn. A 33m earthfill dam is under construction on the Lefini River 14km upstream of its confluence with the Congo River and a powerhouse on the right bank will house four Kaplan turbines. The scheme also includes the construction of a 220kV power transmission line Imboulou-Brazzaville, and Imboulou-Ngo plus additional lines at 110kV and 20kV in Cuvette Department. Construction was slowed by labor shortages and construction issues. Annual output is expected to be about 680 GWh.

Inga
Location: Congo
Operator: Societe Nationale d'Electricite
Configuration: 6 X 59 MW Francis, 8 X 178 MW
Operation: 1972
T/G supplier: Tosi, Ansaldo, Sulzer Escher Wyss, Westinghouse Canada
EPC: Ansaldo
Quick facts: Inga is in the far western DRC 225km southwest of Kinshasa. At the Inga Falls, the Congo river drops 96m and this is considered the largest waterfall complex in the world by volume. The two Inga plants were initiated by former Président Mobutu Sese Seko as part of the Inga-Shaba project. Two more plants are planned, Inga III at 4,500 MW and the immense 39-GW Grand Inga. Inga III is part of the Westcor scheme to interconnect the DRC, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, and South Africa. Grand Inga would cost $80bn or more and be the largest power plant in the world by far with annual generation of 250 TWh, not much less than a 50% increase for power generation on the whole continent, and sales as far north as Egypt. Theoretical combined output of Inga I and II is around 12.6 TWh/yr.

Moukoukoulou
Location: Congo Republic
Operator: Societe Nationale d'Energie
Configuration: 4 X 18.5 MW Francis
Operation: 1979
T/G supplier: Harbin
EPC: Multipower Hydroelectric Development Corp
Quick facts: Moukoukoulou Dam is on the Bouenza River about half-way between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. Although the plant has a nominal capacity of 74 MW, firm capacity in the dry season is about 30 MW. In the spring of 2007, SNE recommissioned the Moukoukoulou power plant after repairing war damage which had reduced output by about two-thirds. The rehabilitation project cost $12mn and the associated transmission system was to be fully restored in the fall of 2007. The Mindouli Substation, a key link in the Moukoukoulou-Brazzaville transmission line, also awaits repair. The hydro plant rehabilitation was overseen by DGGT and the lead contractors were Zhenwei and Weihai International Economic Technical Cooperative (Weitc).

Photograph courtesy of Delegation Generale des Grands Travaux
Posted 30 Aug 2008

Zongo
Location: Congo
Operator: Societe Nationale d'Electricite
Configuration: 3 X 13 MW, 2 X 18 MW Francis
Operation: 1955-1965
T/G supplier: Vevey, Charmilles, ACEC
Quick facts: Eskom has signed a contract to rehabilitate the Zongo plant.