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
Country	Angola
Location	Gomespan, Erbil Governorate
Coordinates	09°44′22″S 15°07′33″E
Purpose	Power
Status	Under construction
Construction began	2012
Opening date	2020 (Expected)
Construction cost	US$4.3 billion
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Gravity, roller-compacted concrete
Impounds	Cuanza River
Height	132 m (433 ft)
Length	1,075 m (3,527 ft)
Dam volume	2,750,000 m^3 (3,600,000 cu yd)
Spillway capacity	10,020 m^3/s (354,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	5,482,000,000 m^3 (4,444,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface area	188 km^2 (73 sq mi)
Commission date	4 August 2017
Type	Conventional
Hydraulic head	Main plant: 200 m (660 ft) Ancillary: 128 m (420 ft)
Turbines	Main plant: 6 x 338 MW Francis-type Ancillary: 1 x 42 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	Main plant: 2,028 MW Ancillary: 42 MW Total: 2070 MW
Annual generation	8,640 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

Rank	Development Partner	Amount Funded	Purpose	Notes
1	Government of Brazil[1]		Dam	Loan
2	Government of Angola[1]		Dam and Transmission	Investment
3	Standard Chartered Bank[5]	€247.8 million	Transmission	Loan
4	Development Bank of Southern Africa[5]	$5 million	Dam	Loan
5	Standard Chartered Bank[5]	€220.5 million	Dam	Loan
6	Gemcorp Capital[5]	$150 million	Dam	Loan
	Total	US$4,300 million

See also

• List of power stations in Angola

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.

External links

• Malanje: President Unveils Lauca Dam As of 4 August 2017.
• Media related to Laúca Dam at Wikimedia Commons