Name and Location
Mount Coffee hydropower plant rehabilitation project, Liberia.
Client
Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).
Project Description
The project aims to rehabilitate the inoperative Mount Coffee hydropower plant, located on the St Paul river, about 27 km north-east of Monrovia, in Montserrado County, to its initial capacity of 64 MW and to reconstruct the associated transmission lines to Monrovia.
The power plant will include four Francis turbines, with a nominal installed capacity of 66 MW in the existing Mount Coffee powerhouse.
The main dam – 22.9 m high, with a spillway 18.3 m high – will be equipped with ten tainter gates.
Three zoned, earthen forebay dams are located near the powerhouse and serve to retain water in these low areas. The reservoir, which will form behind the dams, will have a surface area of 8.1 km2 at a full supply level of 29.08 m above sea level.
The substation will be constructed on the foundation of the previous one and will be energised at 66 kV, with a clearance established for 115 kV, according to which all equipment will be sized. The 24.8 km transmission line from Mount Coffee hydropower plant to Bushrod will be completely rebuilt.
In addition to the reconstruction of the old transmission line, a new one is planned for the future additional generation at Mount Coffee.
The new line will initially operate at 69 kV and will be built to allow for it to be energised at 115 kV.
The 25-km-long access roads from Monrovia to the Mount Coffee plant will have to be partly refurbished.
The project will also reconstruct the associated transmission lines to Monrovia.
Value
The project is estimated at €180-million.
Duration
First power is expected by December 2015.
Latest Developments
Voith Hydro has signed a contract with the LEC for the supply and installation of the generating equipment for the Mount Coffee hydropower plant. The generating equipment includes the turbines and generators, each with a capacity of more than 20 MW; governors; generator circuit breakers; generator step-up transformers; gas-insulated switchgear; a bridge crane; and associated equipment. The contract was signed on October 18 and on October 23, in Monrovia and Heidenheim, Germany, respectively.
The turbines, generators, and auxiliary equipment are major components of the hydropower rehabilitation effort.
The turbines are specialised equipment designed specifically for the Mount Coffee plant, which requires an estimated two-year engineering and manufacturing process. With the signing of this contract and Voith’s commencement of the work, LEC has effectively realised the major goal of the project, which is to achieve first power to Monrovia by December 15, 2015.
The contract’s schedule has the first turbine providing commercial power by December 2015, with the remaining turbines coming on line at two-month intervals during 2016.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
Voith Hydro (supply and installation of the generating equipment).
On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
LEC, tel +231 020 200 2396 or email info@mtcoffeeliberia.com.
Voith Hydro communications manager Kai Schlichtermann, tel +49 7321 37 9748.