Inga dams
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The Inga Dams are two dams in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Inga Falls, where the Congo River crashes down 100 m. Judging by their performance, they are the largest hydroelectric power plants in sub-Saharan Africa.
Inga I was put into operation in 1972, ten years later, Inga II was completed. Both power plants are considered to be "white elephant " of former president Mobutu Sese Seko. There are also plans for two other dam projects.
Inga I and II
Inga I is equipped with six turbines each with a capacity of 52 MW Inga II has eight turbines that can achieve an output of 178 MW each. From 2005 the repair of hydroelectric power plants funded by the World Bank. The rehabilitation of Inga I was carried out mainly by German companies, the work on four of the turbines of Inga II were a subsidiary of the Canadian MagIndustry Corp.. assumed that got exclusive electricity supplies for a plant for magnesium extraction in return in Pointe -Noire in the neighboring state.
Despite the maintenance and newly installed machines could the desired capacity - also due to increasing siltation - not be achieved by their potential generating capacity of 1,700 MW they made in May 2008, less than a quarter, the energy gained is mainly used for on the HVDC Inga - Shaba mining operation in the resource-rich Katanga region used for copper recovery.
Inga III
In addition to the two existing dams, a third power plant, Inga III is planned. The possible power should be 3500-4300 MW. As a partner for financing is a public- private partnership between the government and the mining company BHP Billiton in conversation, who wanted to build an aluminum plant in Bas -Congo. In February 2012, however, the Group withdrew from the negotiations.
In October 2012 a spokesman of the responsible committee that the government speculating in financing to a group of donors, among them the World Bank and the African Development Bank befänden. The construction work for a period of 6 years to 2016Vorlage year: begin future / In 2 years, as costs 2012 9 billion U.S. dollars were called in the fall. Currently, three groups of bidders are in competition: A Chinese consortium of China Three Gorges Corporation and Sinohydro Corporation, a Spanish duo of Grupo ACS and Eurofinsa and the two Korean companies Daewoo Corporation and Posco, together with the Canadian company SNC Lavalin.
The tender results should be evaluated from November 2012. The government wrote from between late 2012 and early 2013 several contracts for external consultants, both for technical issues as well as for the implementation of procurement procedures, which include also the Inga project is to belong.
Grand Inga
Unlike with Inga I, II and III which branch by channels of water in the Congo, it is planned to produce energy with the Grand Inga dam project a complete diversion and damming of the Congo. With a potential capacity of 39-45000 MW, such a dam would be the most powerful hydroelectric power plant in the world, it would be the power of the Three Gorges Dam exceed by more than double and could cover a large part of the African energy needs. For the realization of the idea of cost of 80 billion dollars are expected. Not least this sum, which could stir up the corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo and would present an enormous mountain of debt the country, raise criticism of the project. Also, the environmental impacts, the strong centralization of power and probably lack of compensation to the local population arguments of the critics against the building. In summer 2012, an agreement between the two Governments of the Republics of Congo and South Africa was signed, which should enable it to carry out joint feasibility studies on the project.
For Grand Inga was in December 2011 with the end of the first phase to 2025Vorlage: Future / Calculated in 5 years. Their capacity cheating 6 gigawatts, which could be expanded to 39 gigawatts. In May 2013 it was announced that the construction is scheduled to begin in October 2015. In the first phase to 4.8 gigawatts to 40 gigawatts completion of the project will produce.