Luachimo Hydroelectric Power Station
{{short description|Angolan power station}}
{{Orphan|date=February 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Luachimo Hydroelectric Power Station
| name_official =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| location_map = Angola
| location_map_size =
| location_map_caption =
| location_map_alt =
| location_map_relief =
| coordinates = {{coord|07|21|47|S|20|50|36|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = Angola
| location = Luachimo
| purpose = P
| status = O
| construction_began =
| opening ={{Start date and age|1957|df=y}}
| demolished =
| cost =US$212 million
| owner =
| operator =
| dam_type =
| dam_crosses = Luachimo River
| dam_height =
| dam_height_foundation=
| dam_height_thalweg =
| dam_length =
| dam_elevation_crest =
| dam_width_crest =
| dam_width_base =
| dam_volume =
| spillway_count =
| spillway_type =
| spillway_capacity =
| res_name =
| res_capacity_total =
| res_capacity_active =
| res_capacity_inactive=
| res_catchment =
| res_surface =
| res_max_length =
| res_max_width =
| res_max_depth =
| res_elevation =
| res_tidal_range =
| plant_name = Ruacana Power Station
| plant_coordinates =
| plant_operator =
| plant_commission =
| plant_decommission =
| plant_type =
| plant_hydraulic_head =
| plant_turbines = Francis-type
4 x {{convert|8.5|MW|abbr=on}}
| plant_capacity = {{convert|34|MW|abbr=on}}
| plant_capacity_factor=
| plant_annual_gen =
| website =
| extra =
}}
The Luachimo Hydroelectric Power Station is a hydroelectric power plant near Luachimo in northeast Angola, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo .{{cite web|date=March 2017 | url=https://www.andritz.com/hydro-en/hydronews/hn31/luachimo-angola |title=Luachimo, Angola: New Compact Turbines For More Power - Small & Mini Hydro |publisher=Andritz.com |author=Hans Wolfhard |access-date=12 June 2020 |location=Vienna, Austria}}
Location
The power station is located across the Luachimo River, in the commune of Luachimo, in the Lunda Norte Province of Angola, adjacent to the international border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Luachimo is the location of the city of Dundo, approximately {{convert|1123|km|0}}, by road, northeast of Luanda, the capital and largest city of Angola.{{google maps|title=Distance Between Luanda And Dundo In Angola |access-date=12 June 2020 | url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Luanda,+Angola/Dundo,+Angola/@-8.4332054,12.5315484,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1a51f15cdc8d2c7d:0x850c1c5c5ecc5a92!2m2!1d13.2301756!2d-8.8146556!1m5!1m1!1s0x1a2f5b95814610ff:0xe6734527b01a060c!2m2!1d20.8195292!2d-7.3741779!3e0}} The geographical coordinates of Luachimo Hydroelectric Power Station are:07°21'47.0"S, 20°50'36.0"E (Latitude:-7.363056; Longitude:20.843333).{{google maps|title=Location of Luachimo Hydroelectric Power Station |access-date=12 June 2020 | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/7%C2%B021'47.0%22S+20%C2%B050'36.0%22E/@-7.3622388,20.8744539,20353m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-7.3630556!4d20.8433333}}
Overview
Construction of the original power station at this site, started in 1953.{{cite web|title=Refurbishment planned for Angola's 9-MW Luachimo, 1.6-MW Kunje |publisher=Hydroreview.com
|url=https://www.hydroreview.com/2008/05/29/refurbishment-planned-for-angolas-9-mw-luachimo-16-mw-kunje/#gref |date=29 May 2008 |author=Hydro Review |access-date=12 June 2020}} In 1957 the power station began operations with four turbines each rated at 2.1 megawatts for a total generation capacity of {{convert|8.4|MW|0}}. The power station is owned and operated by Empresa Nacional de Diamantes de Angola.{{cite web |url=https://www.industryabout.com/country-territories-3/2557-angola/hydro-energy/39744-luachimo-hydro-power-plant |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716193626/http://www.industryabout.com/country-territories-3/2557-angola/hydro-energy/39744-luachimo-hydro-power-plant |url-status=usurped |archive-date=16 July 2017 | title=Luachimo Hydro Power Plant |publisher=Industryabout.com | date=15 July 2017 |access-date=12 June 2020 |author=Industry About}}
Rehabilitation and expansion
Plans to rehabilitate and expand this power station have been in the works since 2009, wen Emanuela Vieira Lopes, the country's
minister of Energy, made those plans public.{{cite web|url=http://m.portalangop.co.ao/angola/en_us/noticias/sociedade/2009/4/22/Luachimo-hydroelectric-power-plant-rehabilitated,c653d8b9-b302-4ecf-8209-077e7aa2fb12.html |date=30 May 2009 |title=Luachimo's hydroelectric power plant to be rehabilitated |publisher=Angola Press News Agency |
author=Angola Press News Agency |access-date=13 June 2020 | location=Luanda}}
In 2016 work began at the power station, to increase generation capacity from 8.4 megawatts to 34 megawatts. Each new turbine will have generation capacity of 8.5 megawatts. The power generated will supply the 186,000 people who live in Dundo City and surrounding neighborhoods. The renovations and upgrade to the power station cost US$212 million.{{cite web| url=http://www.angop.ao/angola/en_us/noticias/economia/2020/5/24/State-Secretary-for-Energy-oversees-Luachimo-dam-works,dfa2b91a-0074-4889-a0e9-78ab3329003e.html |title=State Secretary for Energy oversees Luachimo dam works |publisher=Angola Press News Agency |date=10 June 2020 |author=Angola Press News Agency | access-date=12 June 2020 |location=Luanda}}
The renovated, expanded power station with generation capacity of 34 MW, was commercially commissioned on 17 May 2024. The engineering, procurement and construction contractor was China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC).{{cite web| url=https://www.afrik21.africa/en/energy-china-relaunches-the-luachimo-hydroelectric-power-station-in-angola/ |title=Energy China relaunches the Luachimo hydroelectric power station in Angola | date=30 May 2024 |work=Afrik21.africa |author=Jean Marie Takouleu | access-date=2 June 2024 |location=Paris, France}}
See also
{{Portal|Africa|Water|Renewable energy}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.africaoilandpower.com/2020/01/03/power-generation-in-angola/ Power Generation in Angola] As of 3 January 2020.
{{Authority control}}
{{stack|}}
Category:1957 establishments in Angola
Category:Underground power stations
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1957
Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Angola