120 MW Sombwe Hydropower Project
Client
Kipay InvestmentsLocation
Katanga, Democratic Republic of the CongoHighlights
- River morphology and hydrology
- Dam site and dam type selection
- Geophysical and geotechnical investigations
- Development of surface and underground hydropower plant arrangements
- Project optimization
- Bankable feasibility design
- Technical advisory services for lender funding
Project Overview
Knight Piésold was appointed in a joint venture by Kipay Investments to complete a bankable feasibility design for a hydroelectric plant proposed on the site of Sombwe in Mitwaba territory on the Lufira River. Scheme components include a large 90-m-high arch/gravity storage dam, providing head for a 120 MW hydropower station. A 200 km transmission line will connect to Fungurume or Panda substation for securing a PPA with SNEL or TFM.
Project Role
Services included undertaking geotechnical investigations, river hydrology studies, and reconnaissance field visits to identify potential hydropower sites and then completing a detailed options study, considering several dam types, sites, and height with appropriate hydropower plant configurations and undertaking energy simulations for various scheme types to feed into the economic evaluations and arrive at a recommended hydropower scheme. Additional services included engineering (technical and bankable) feasibility design of the arch/gravity dam and associated hydropower works and technical assistance during EPC negotiations with Power China.