In March 2012 ANDRITZ HYDRO - ANDRITZ Vertical volute pumps

14 HYDRONEWS New projects
Inga 2
Strengthen St th the th hhydropower d market k t in the Democratic Republic of Congo
▲ Aerial view of the Inga site: powerhouse of Inga 2 (left) and Inga 1 (right)
ANDRITZ HYDRO strengthens
its presence in Africa with an
important turbine rehabilitation
contract for two units at HPP
Inga 2 in the Democratic Republic
of Congo.
The Inga 2 power station was built
on the Congo River in the 1970s,
approx. 300 km downstream of
Kinshasa, Congo. The power station
currently uses only a small portion of its
enormous potential for power generation.
ANDRITZ HYDRO was awarded
a contract in a consortium by the
government of the Democratic Republic
of Congo to rehabilitate two 178 MW
units.
ANDRITZ HYDRO will handle the me-
chanical part of the rehabilitation, including
repair and overhaul of the penstocks,
hydraulic steelworks and rather
large Francis turbines, which have a
runner diameter of 6,200 mm. In order
to achieve much better performance
and higher reliability, the central parts
of the turbines will be completely replaced
with state-of-the art equipment.
This will also guarantee smoother operational
behavior and fewer maintenance
requirements. The project will be
finalized in 2015.
The fundamental rehabilitation of the
two turbines, which have been out of
service for many years, will substantially
improve the electric power system in
Congo. At present the system suffers
frequent outages. There is consider-
able potential for further rehabilitation
works on the equipment at the
two existing powerhouses in Inga. In
addition, this strategically important
project will allow a closer follow-up of
the ambitious plans to further develop
the Inga site. In fact, it has the potential
to become the most important electricity
source for the entire continent.
Patrice Barbeau
Phone: +49 (751) 29511 452
patrice.barbeau@andritz.com
TECHNICAL DATA
Output: 2 x 178 MW
Head: 62 m
Speed: 107.1 rpm
Runner diameter: 6,200 mm