Communtauté Electrique du Bénin (CEB), a Beninese-Togolese joint venture, has contracted The Voith Group – a global technology company – to carry out extensive rehabilitation and modernization measures at the Nangbeto hydropower plant, which has been in operation for 35 years on the border between the two countries.
The aim of the work is to secure the plant’s operation for at least another 30 years and to modernize its auxiliary facilities. The contract is worth 22 million euros.
The order includes the refurbishment of the generators, the cavitation inspection of the turbines and the replacement of the blades as well as the rehabilitation of the cooling system. In addition, the automation and communication infrastructure will be overhauled.
A water treatment plant will supply the neighboring communities with fresh water. To ensure smooth operations for the next 30 years, the modernization of the supply buildings and the switchyard are also planned.
The work is to be completed by autumn 2022 and will be carried out during operation, meaning that at least one of the two units with a capacity of 32.5 megawatts each will always be connected to the grid.
Also Read: Voith Technology Group modernizing the Wanjii small hydropower plant in Kenya
Local empowerment
The construction work on site will be carried out entirely by local companies so that additional jobs can be created in the region during the project period. To enable the employees to better handle the plant after the extensive modernization, CEB uses the opportunity and takes advantage of Voith’s training offer.
“Nangbeto is currently the only power plant that simultaneously supplies Togo and Benin with renewable energy. We are proud to make this plant fit for the future,” explains Heike Bergmann, Senior Vice President Sales Africa at Voith Hydro.
“The project and the successful cooperation with our local partners provide us with a good basis for further modernization projects in Central and West Africa. Overall, the African continent has an enormous untapped hydropower potential. We want to use this potential to sustainably expand the regional power supply”.
About the company
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has more than 19,000 employees, sales of € 4.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the large family-owned companies in Europe.
The Group Division Voith Hydro is part of the Voith Group and a leading full-line supplier as well as trusted partner for equipping hydropower plants. Voith develops customized, long-term solutions and services for large and small hydro plants all over the world. Its portfolio of products and services covers the entire life cycle and all major components for large and small hydro plants, from generators, turbines, pumps and automation systems, right through to spare parts, maintenance and training services, and digital solutions for intelligent hydropower.
