Nyabarongo Hydro Electric project in progress

6th,February,2013-At Nyabarongo Site Offices, RSW International Consulting Engineers led by John Lee Pattinson, the Project Manager and the Mission Chief Nyabarongo  hydro-electric project held a Management meeting with the Civil works Contractor, Angelic International Limited(AIL),Electro & hydro-Mechanical contractor, hart heavy electrical Limited(BHEL),Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) and the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA).

The Main objective of the meeting was to assess the progress of the works at the site, presumably on the Power house works or switch yard (TAILRACE), Dam grouting, surge shaft, Intake and Land acquisition status.

The Civil works contractor (Angelique International Limited) and Electro & hydro-Mechanical contractor (BHEL) are both International companies from India that are taking forward the works at the project which is supposed to be operational earl next year.

The Nyabarongo hydro-electric project (HEP) is being financed by Indian Exim Bank (IEB) and the Government of Rwanda (GOR). However, the two companies currently are undertaking a quiet number of activities at the site, including the Placement of concrete to the Dam and Foundation grouting works, Excavation of 3m Dia Riser to surge shaft, Concrete to surge shaft lining, Excavation of headrace tunnel from both upstream and downstream ends, Spiral Casing Placement in power house machine hall and Top slab of the service bay will be concreted before the end of February 2013.

Additionally, Concrete to the Intake structure foundation of the Dam, Concrete to the Tailrace slab and walls, Back fill to Nyabarongo switchyard and the general preparatory works at Kirinda substation are in progressing well, «The project Manager revealed.”

The Dam construction at the Project, about 79% of Mass Concrete has been placed thus far and the Substantial Completion is still expected to be as planned at the end of March, 2013.Excavation works in the Head race Tunnel are moving effectively and the Breakthrough is expected also in March 2013 which means the work done so far is Promising and Interesting.

The Concrete to the top slab at the powerhouse is expected to be in place by the end of February, together with the Riser shaft Excavation concreting for the foundation of the Intake structure. More the less, the backfill for the foundation to the Nyabarongo substation has commenced and this assures that the quality of work done has been improved.

According to Bharat heavy electrical ltd Coordinator,Lot-4,transmission line and substations activities are proceeding well, and erection of Type”B” Towers totaling to 52 have been placed completely. Also stringing works are in progress whereby 1.7m is done with the benching works at Kirinda substation.

In nutshell, the overall progress of the Civil works at the site are assessed at 68% based on the based on the Best effort programme (BEP) Milestones and the progress on the Electro-hydro mechanical works are assessed at 35% based on Payment Milestones, but the Manufacturing and shipping of the relevant equipments is advancing as required, so the progress estimate of the whole project is now at 58%, so the project still anticipate one Turbine that will be on line by December 2013.