| ANDRITZ Hydropower
A lighthouse project for West Africa – Sambangalou in Senegal
By Mario Ledic, ANDRITZ Hydropower
IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, more than 600 million people have no access to electricity. Investments in renewable and affordable energies such as hydropower are key to sustainable economic development. ANDRITZ has been active on the continent for more than 100 years, and in 2020 received an order to supply the electromechanical equipment for the new Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station. The global decline in trade and investment has severely slowed down the economic upswing of the African countries, especially in the sub-Saharan region. However, forecasts such as those of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) provide optimism that countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Senegal, will experience a resilient recovery and emerge stronger from the challenges. The Senegalese government has significantly
improved the framework conditions for investment with the national economic and social program “Plan Senegal Emergent” (PSE) and other related reforms, leading to continuous growth rates. The country aims to achieve the status of an emerging economy by 2035. In the energy sector, power generation in particular plays a key role within the framework of the PSE. The goal is to enable the construction of new power plants with state and private investments to achieve the complete electrification of the
country. Today, more than 65% of Senegal’s inhabitants have access to electricity, but there is a gap in demand primarily in rural regions due to a connection rate below 45%. The objective is to support economic and social development through access to electricity. To achieve this, Senegal is focusing on harnessing the existing potential of renewable energies, in addition to its natural gas reserves. Along with solar and wind, hydropower will
play a decisive role in the energy mix. One example of the successful implementation of new power plants is the new Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station on the Gambia River, one of the main rivers in West Africa. Once completed, the power station in the Kedougou region on the border with Guinea will be a regional flagship project in West Africa. As part of a consortium with VINCI Construction, ANDRITZ was awarded a contract to supply the electromechanical equipment for the project. The catchment area of the Gambia River covers over 77,000 square kilometers and, in addition to Senegal, includes the countries of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Gambia. In order to take advantage of the river’s resources, the four countries founded the transnational Gambia River Development Organization (Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Gambie, OMVG) in the early 1980s.
The OMVG is also the future owner of the Sambangalou hydropower plant, which will have a total capacity of 128MW. The distribution infrastructure for the power grid of the four OMVG countries consists of 1,677km of 225kV high-voltage transmission lines, 15 substations and a distribution center. Despite initial challenges, such as logistics and commercial issues, ANDRITZ managed to set up a local factory for penstocks and bottom outlet pipes after starting the construction site. Since March 2024, the pipe elements for this project are being manufactured on-site. Within only a couple of months, all pipe segments will be completed and ready for installation. In addition to generating renewable, clean, and cost-efficient energy, as well as the creation of a regional electricity market in West Africa, the multipurpose project will also assist in regulating the flow of the Gambia River during dry and wet seasons, and so help not only improving flood security but also facilitating the irrigation of agricultural land in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea. Furthermore, providing access to clean drinking water for neighboring districts is another important aspect of the project. Sambangalou hydropower plant is a lighthouse project for a brighter, greener future in Senegal and the whole region. ANDRITZ is proud to be part of this important undertaking.
contact-hydro@andritz.com
www.waterpowermagazine.com | May 2024 | 61
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