Laúca Hydroelectric Power Station

The Lauca Hydroelectric Power Station is a 2,070 MW (2,775,916 hp) hydroelectric power plant, under construction in Angola. When completed, as expected in 2020, it will be the largest power station in the country.[1]

Lauca Dam
Location of Lauca Dam in Angola
CountryAngola
LocationGomespan, Erbil Governorate
Coordinates09°44′22″S 15°07′33″E
PurposePower
StatusUnder construction
Construction began2012
Opening date2020 (Expected)
Construction costUS$4.3 billion
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity, roller-compacted concrete
ImpoundsCuanza River
Height132 m (433 ft)
Length1,075 m (3,527 ft)
Dam volume2,750,000 m3 (3,600,000 cu yd)
Spillway capacity10,020 m3/s (354,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity5,482,000,000 m3 (4,444,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface area188 km2 (73 sq mi)
Commission date4 August 2017
TypeConventional
Hydraulic headMain plant: 200 m (660 ft)
Ancillary: 128 m (420 ft)
TurbinesMain plant: 6 x 338 MW Francis-type
Ancillary: 1 x 42 MW Francis-type
Installed capacityMain plant: 2,028 MW
Ancillary: 42 MW
Total: 2070 MW
Annual generation8,640 GWh (est.)

Location

The power station sits across the Kwanza River at the border between Angola's Cuanza Norte Province and Malanje Province. The Laúca Power Station, is located approximately 47 kilometres (29 mi) downstream of the Capanda Hydroelectric Power Station.[1] This is approximately 280 kilometres (174 mi) by road, southeast of Luanda, the capital and largest city in the country.[2] The geographical coordinates of Laúca Hydroelectric Power Station are:09°44'22.0"S, 15°07'33.0"E (Latitude:-9.739444; Longitude:15.125833).[3]

Overview

Construction of the biggest hydroelectric power installation in Angola began in 2012.[1][4] The first 338 megawatts generator of the 2,070 megawatts power station was commissioned on 4 August 2017, when the power plant was officially inaugurated by President José Eduardo dos Santos, the president of Angola at that time.[5] In July 2019, the fifth turbine, out of six main generating units, was installed.[6]

The power generated is integrated into the national electricity grid and supplies energy to approximately 8,000,000 customers in Angola. The project has provided over 8,000 direct jobs during the construction phase.[7]

Technical specifications

The 132 m (433 ft) tall roller-compacted concrete dam will withhold a reservoir of 5,482,000,000 m3 (1.936×1011 cu ft), with a surface area of 188 square kilometres (46,000 acres).[1]

The reservoir will supply two hydroelectric power stations, a main and an ancillary. The main will contain six 334 MW Francis turbine-generators and the ancillary a single 65.5 MW Francis unit. The ancillary power station will operate most often, to maintain a minimum 60 m3/s (2,100 cu ft/s) ecological flow of the river.[8]

Later, the specifications were modified to six 338 megawatts generators for the main and one 42 megawatts generator for the ancillary.[9]

Funding

The dam and power station will cost US$4.3 billion. In the beginning the project received partial funding from the government of Brazil.[1] Following a corruption scandal involving the government of Brazil in 2016, that line of credit was terminated, leaving a funding gap.[5] The government of Angola turned to commercial lenders in order to raise the necessary funding to complete the project. The table below illustrates the sources of funding for the Laúca Hydroelectric Power Station.[5]

Laúca Hydroelectric Power Station Funding
RankDevelopment PartnerAmount FundedPurposeNotes
1Government of Brazil[1] DamLoan
2Government of Angola[1]Dam and TransmissionInvestment
3Standard Chartered Bank[5]€247.8 millionTransmissionLoan
4Development Bank of Southern Africa[5]$5 millionDamLoan
5Standard Chartered Bank[5]€220.5 millionDamLoan
6Gemcorp Capital[5]$150 millionDamLoan
TotalUS$4,300 million
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See also

References
  1. Macauhub (30 October 2015). "Lauca dam, in Angola, starts producing energy in 2017". Macauhub.com.mo. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  2. Google (19 June 2020). "Road Distance Between Luanda, Angola And Laúca Hydroelectric Power Station, Angola" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  3. Google (19 June 2020). "Location of Laúca Hydroelectric Power Station" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. International Hydropower Association (May 2017). "Angola Hydropower Country Profile". London: International Hydropower Association. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  5. Macauhub (28 February 2018). "Angola's government signs new loan to finance Lauca dam" (Translated from the original Portuguese language). Macauhub.com. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  6. Macauhub (8 July 2019). "Laúca dam in Angola has five of its six turbines in commercial operation". Macauhub.com.mo. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  7. Serge Rombi (19 June 2017). "Angola's Infrastructure Boom: The Laúca Dam". Lyon, France: Euronews.com. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  8. COBA S.A. (2012). "Lauca Hydropower Development" (PDF). Lisbon, Portugal: COBA S.A. Portugal. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  9. "Renewable Energy for Angola". Graz, Austria: Andritz AG. 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
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