The Angolan authorities recently inaugurated the Luachimo hydroelectric power station. The rehabilitation of the hydroelectric scheme required an investment of $212 million, financed with the support of the Chinese government.
A subsidiary of China Energy, the China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC), was responsible for rehabilitating the plant, which quadrupled its generating capacity. The relaunch of the hydroelectric power station took place on 17 May 2024.
The work commenced in 2017 by a subsidiary of China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC or Energy China). The works included repairs to the hydromechanical equipment, the construction of a new water diversion canal, the installation of four new turbines, each with a generating capacity of 8.5 MW, the construction of a new 60 kV substation and the addition of transmission and distribution networks. The capacity of the hydroelectric power station has been increased from 8.8 MW to 34 MW.
The Luachimo hydroelectric power station was commissioned in 1953 when Angola was a Portuguese colony. The dam is located on the Luachimo river, a tributary of the Kasai River, which in turn flows into the Congo River.
China is also currently building Angola’s largest dam. The mega reservoir on the Kwanza River will be equipped with a 2,172 MW hydroelectric power station.
Source: Arik21, May 30, 2024. https://www.afrik21.africa/…/energy-china-relaunches…/
See also: ESI Africa, June 10, 2024. https://www.esi-africa.com/…/angola-hydropower-station…/