Capanda Dam

Capanda Dam
Location	Malanje, Angola
Construction began	1987
Opening date	2004
Construction cost	US$4 billion
Operator(s)	Gamek
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Kwanza River
Height	110 m (360 ft)
Length	1,470 m (4,820 ft)
Reservoir
Surface area	170 km2 (66 sq mi)
Power Station
Commission date	2004-2007
Turbines	4 × 130 MW (170,000 hp) MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	520 MW (700,000 hp)

The Capanda Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Kwanza River in Malanje Province, Angola. Built in 1987–2007 years the Russian company Tekhnopromexport, general designer - the institute Hydroproject (Chief Engineer - Ph.D Fedosov V.E.) The facility generates power by utilizing four turbines and 130 megawatts (170,000 hp) each, totalling the installed capacity to 520 megawatts (700,000 hp) . Total cost of US$4 billion. An additional cost of more than US$400 million was spent in repairing the damage caused during UNITA's occupation of the area at the time of the Angolan Civil War in 1992 and 1999.

The design

The principal structures include:

• concrete gravity dam, which includes: full section of the spillway dam, spillway bottom hydroelectric power plant,
• comprising: GES, four tunnel conduit,
• power house open switchgear (ORU 220 kW)
• administrative building

Economic significance

As of 2013 Capanda HPP generates more than half of all electricity in Angola and is the largest hydroelectric complex in the country

The history of construction

September 2, 1982 signed an intergovernmental Soviet-Angolan agreement and a framework contract for the construction of hydropower. Ministry of Energy and Petroleum of Angola for construction management to form a cabinet for your Central Kwanza (GAMEK) contractor is a consortium of Capanda, which included the Soviet foreign trade association "Tekhnopromexport" and Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht.

The first draft and the first topographic surveys on the alignment of the dam were made in 1965 by the Portuguese COBA. This project involves the construction of arch dam based on two gravity abutments. Soviet specialists, the project was scrapped and construction costs significantly reduced. Project Capanda HPP 520 MW was completed in 1989. He successfully passed the examination in the state expert organizations USSR, Angola and Brazil.

Construction was started in January 1987. Contract was provided for the completion of construction in end of 1992. From April to October 1988 was the construction of the tunnel excavation. At the end of June 1989 Kwanzaa was closed, and the water flowed into the tunnel. Overlapping tunnel and filling of the reservoir provided September 1, 1992.

Construction of the plant was conducted under conditions of ongoing Civil War in Angola. November 4, 1992 the site was captured by UNITA squad. During the attack killed about 20 people Angolans - mostly police guarding the construction site and three Russian specialists. After the capture of the unfinished hydroelectric stood without any conservation until 2000. In 1997, an attempt was made to resume construction. During the reconnaissance survey on the upstream side of the dam had traces of powerful explosions and tower cranes were found thrown into the river dozens of meters. After UNITA, at the construction site there is nothing left except the concrete dam. All residential barracks were burned, and newcomers builders lived for a while in army tents.

February 12, 2000 work was resumed again. In July 2002, to begin filling the reservoir. In 2004, in January and June were running the first two turbines. Construction passed to the second stage, and in 2007, were put the third and fourth turbines. After UNITA left Capanda, all roads leading to the construction site had been mined. Despite the fact that the work was carried out demining, almost immediately after the resumption of construction on mines blown up, at least two large dump truck. Landmines and found on a construction site and later, in the places where they were washed away after heavy rains. Mines in the area Capanda are still

Panorama HPP Capanda from the right Bank

See also

• Lauca Dam – under construction downstream
• List of power stations in Angola

References

• "Photos from Capanda HPP". megard. Retrieved 2014-01-06.