Name and Location
Imboulou hydroelectric power plant, Republic of the Congo.

Project Description
The project involved the construction of a hydroelectric power plant with an installed capacity of 120 MW on the Lefini river, some 215 km from Brazzaville. The plant consists of a dam with four vertical Kaplan turbines, two bottom outlets and the spillway, as well as a 270-m-long earth dam.

The facility is expected to generate 876-million kilowatt hours a year and allow the country to reduce energy imports from its larger neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Value
An amount of $377-million, of which 85% was in the form of soft loans from China.

Duration
Construction started in 2005 and the plant was officially inaugurated in early May 2011.

Client
Délégation Générale des Grands Travaux (DGGT).

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Sinohydro (construction); China National Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Corporation (general contractor); and Fichtner (construction supervision and quality control for the power station, storage dam and access road).

Latest Developments
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
The project was delivered on schedule and within budget.

Contact Details for Project Information
DGGT, Jean Jacques Bouya, tel +242 81 47 13 or fax +242 81 40 21.
Fichtner MD Roland Pröger, tel +49 7 11 899 5277 or email roland.proeger@fwt.fichtner.de.