Rosatom company Ganz Engineering and Energetics Machinery (Ganz EEM) and its South African partner, Blue World Power Energy and Resources, are to supply hydroelectric equipment for a small scale hydroelectric power plant at Mpompomo Falls, near Barberton in Mpumalanga – in what has been described as the first of many envisaged mini – hydro projects in the Sub-Sharan African region for Rosatom.
“This is our first contract with Blue World Power and Energy Services, with a scope to install a low-yield (under 1 Mw) hydro-electric power plant in South Africa,” commented Alexander Merten, the President of Rusatom International Network (RIN), which is the acting as the project integrator. “This is just the beginning of our envisaged large-scale cooperation program in the field of small-scale hydropower engineering in Central and South African countries.”
Rosatom said it offers numerous energy solutions for African countries, including a containerized mini-hydropower plant with a design capacity of up to 2MW. A single facility is capable of providing electricity to between 250 and 400 houses. The installation requires no dam construction and causes no environmental harm to river and other reservoir ecology, said Rosatom, with the compact container solution making it possible to considerably reduce the commissioning time and cut construction costs. The facility’s warranty period is 12 years, while its operational lifetime is roughly 30 years. The plant can be controlled and monitored remotely via satellite, mobile communications network or the Internet (with a mobile option available).
“These mini – hydro units have become our focus, as they are capable of bringing power quickly and efficiently to rural communities in Africa,” noted Gavin Carlson, Managing Director of Blue World Power Energy and Resources. “Rosatom and ourselves have made a commitment to powering Africa through innovative technologies, such as mini-hydro.”
