Sinohydro is a Chinese state-owned hydropower
project contractor that was founded in the 1950’s. Tey’re responsible for 65% of the large and medium- scale hydropower project construction in China. Te company is a driving force behind China’s go-go industrial development and its bid for Inga III demonstrates that they also have ambitions beyond their own borders. China Tree Gorges Corporation is the state-owned company established in 1993. Tree Gorges, of course, was responsible for the construction of the Tree-Gorges Dam project. No one else on the planet has a big-building resume like these guys. As Inga III moves forward, don’t be surprised to hear more from this powerhouse pair. Group Eurofinsa is a conglomeration of Spanish companies created in 1977. Te group is active in Africa, Latin America and Asia where it’s working to develop large projects in the infrastructure, telecommunications, transport and military sectors. Te group also has a strong
146th by the Fortune global 500. Daewoo Engineering and Construction has been a domestic force in South Korean construction since its founding in 1973. In the last four decades the company has expanded to complete projects in 30 countries across the globe, and their latest efforts find the company branding itself as a “human-centered” and “Eco-friendly” concern that can maximize scheduling and profits on big projects while simultaneously diminishing their impact. Tis trio’s diversity is impressive and their commitment to environmentally friendly building might give them the edge against the Chinese bid. Te project’s environmental and social repercussions will be one of the greatest obstacles the Grand Inga project will face during and after its construction. Te Congo offers unique features like a waterfall and a series of rapids very close to its mouth. At the Grand Inga site, the river drops 96 meters over 14.5 km. Upon completion, the project will divert as much as two-thirds
Congo’s energy divide.
“MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF AFRICA’S POPULATION DOESN’T HAVE ACCESS TO POWER.”
Photo courtesy of International Rivers.
record of developing rural and urban water projects. ACS is another Spanish conglomerate with a global presence similar to that of Eurofinsa and a reputation for work in the hydroelectric industry. Te Spanish bid appears to be a dark horse in the race for Inga III, but these are big companies with impressive resumes who just might land the second biggest dam-building project of all time. Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a world leader in engineering, construction, and the development and ownership of infrastructure. Te Canadian company is based in Montreal, Quebec, but has offices in 40 countries where they serve clients across industry sectors including mining and metallurgy, oil and gas, environment and water as well as infrastructure and clean power. Its South Korean partners in their Inga bid include Posco and Daewoo. Posco is a multinational steel-making firm based in Pohang, South Korea. It’s the world’s fourth-largest steelmaker by output of crude steel tonnage and the company is ranked
26 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE
of the total volume of the river to create a massive reservoir. Te environmental impacts of reducing the river’s flow and flooding the Bundi Valley include loss of biodiversity, shifts in dominant species, methane emissions, and the increase in breeding grounds for insects carrying waterborne diseases. In addition, the laying of transmission lines will mean huge corridors of deforestation and large security and maintenance costs. And for all of this disruption and destruction there is currently no strategy showing how these massive ambitions will do anything to improve the day-to-day lives of the Congo’s poorest rural populations. As it stands, the Grand Inga plan is far from perfect,
but big problems demand big solutions and they don’t come much bigger than this. If the African nations are going to continue on the road to development they’ll need power – and lots of it. Perhaps this will be the first step toward bringing light to the Dark Continent. y
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