Nachtigal Hydroelectric Power Station
| Natchigal Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of Natchtigal Power Station Placement on map is aptedproximate  Nachtigal Hydroelectric Power Station (Africa) .svg) Nachtigal Hydroelectric Power Station (Earth) | |
| Location | Natchtigal, Cameroon |
| Coordinates | 04°21′03″N 11°38′00″E / 4.35083°N 11.63333°E |
| Construction began | 2018 |
| Opening date | Starting 10 May 2024 |
| Construction cost | €1.2 billion |
| Owner(s) | Nachtigal Hydro Power Company |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | RCC Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Sanaga River |
| Height | 14 m |
| Length | 2000 m |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 27.9E6 m³ |
| Surface area | 4.21 km² |
| Power Station | |
| Operator(s) | Nachtigal Hydro Power Company |
| Commission date | July 2024 Expected |
| Turbines | 7 x GE Francis 60 MW |
| Installed capacity | 420 MW |
| Annual generation | 3,000 GWh |
The Nachtigal Hydroelectric Power Station is a 420 megawatt run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station under development in Cameroon across the Sanaga River, which harnesses the energy of the Nachtigal Falls. The development rights were granted to Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC), a company owned by a consortium comprising (a) Électricité de France (b) International Finance Corporation and (c) the Government of Cameroon. A 35-year power purchase agreement is in place, between Eneo Cameroon S.A. and NHPC.[1]
Location
[edit]The dam lies across the Sanaga River, about 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-east of Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon.[2]
Overview
[edit]The design calls for a gravity dam with a power potential of 420 megawatts, powered by seven turbines, each with a capacity of 60 megawatts. The roller-compacted concrete (RCC) dam will create a reservoir with a surface area of 4.21 square kilometres (1,040 acres), capable of storing 2.78 million m³ of water.[1]
As part of this project, NHPC the concessionaire, will construct a double circuit 225 kilovolt high voltage transmission line measuring 50.3 kilometres (31 mi) in length, that will transmit the generated power to a substation where it will be integrated into the national electricity grid. Once the high voltage transmission line is constructed and operational, ownership, operation and maintenance will transfer to National Electricity Transmission Company (Sonatrel).[1]
Ownership
[edit]The power station is owned by the special purpose company named Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC). The table below illustrates the shareholding in NHPC. In 2019, two more shareholders joined the original three. Africa50, a subsidiary of the African Development Bank, took a 15 percent shareholding in NHPC. Stoa Infra & Energy from France also acquired a 10 percent shareholding in the project.[3]
| Rank | Shareholder | Domicile | Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Électricité de France | France | 40.00 |
[1][3] |
| 2 | International Finance Corporation | United States | 20.00 |
[1][3] |
| 3 | Government of Cameroon | Cameroon | 15.00 |
[1][3] |
| 4 | Africa50 | Ivory Coast | 15.00 |
[1][3] |
| 5 | Stoa Infra & Energy | France | 10.00 |
[1][3] |
| Total | 100.0 |
Construction costs
[edit]The estimated costs for the dam and power plant was €1.2 billion in 2018. Approximately €300 million (25 percent) was raised internally by the NHPC consortium as equity investment. The remaining amount, about €900 million, was borrowed from the eleven international financiers and four Cameroonian banks. Some of the lenders to this project include the following:[1][4]
- African Development Bank
- Africa Finance Corporation
- French Development Agency
- Proparco
- International Finance Corporation
- Societe Generale des Banques au Cameroun
- Standard Chartered Cameroon
- Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund
- FMO (Netherlands)
- European Investment Bank
Timeline and commissioning
[edit]In December 2021, Afrik21 reported that the first 60 megawatt turbine was expected to be commissioned in July 2023. The final and seventh of equally rated turbines is expected to come online in July 2024.[5]
On 10 May 2024, the first turbine started supplying 60 MW to the grid. The remaining six turbines are expected to come online at a rate of approximately one per month until the seventh turbine scheduled for activation in December 2024.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i NS Energy (2018). "Nachtigal Hydro Power Plant". United Kingdom: NS Energy Business. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Nachtigal Hydropower Project".
- ^ a b c d e f Boris Ngounou (6 December 2018). "Cameroon: Nachtigal Hydropower Company's capital passes from 3 to 5 shareholders". Paris, France: Afrik21.africa. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Boris Ngounou (9 November 2018). "Cameroon: Funding for Nachtigal hydroelectric power plant (420 MW) complete". Paris, France: Afrik21.africa. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Benoit-Ivan Wansi (22 December 2021). "Cameroon: Nachtigal hydroelectric dam to come on stream mid-2024". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (14 May 2024). "Nachtigal Dam Injects Its First MW Into Cameroon's Power Grid". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
External links
[edit]
- Cameroon: GE Renewable Energy to supply seven turbines for Nachtigal project As of 17 March 2019.
- Cameroon’s Nachtigal Taps New Possibilities for Clean Power As of May 2019.