The 700MW Cambambe 2 hydropower plant has been officially opened in Angola, significantly expanding the country’s electricity generating capacity.
In the presence of 500 international guests from the political, industrial and social arenas, Angola's Vice President Manuel Domingos Vicente officially opened the plant at the end of June 2017 on behalf of President José Eduardo dos Santos. Technology Group Voith was the project's key partner and was responsible for the supply and installation of the turbines, generators, control technology and associated electromechanical systems. The order volume for Voith amounted to more than EUR 100 million.
The new hydropower facility was installed next to the existing Cambambe 1 plant, which has been in operation since 1962 and was extensively upgraded by Voith between 2008 and 2012. Voith was able to increase the power plant output by around 40% to 260MW, which is higher than the contractually agreed level. Due to its positive experience with this project, the state energy utility and plant operator Empresa Nacional de Electricidade de Angola (ENE) again opted to work with Voith to supply the electromechanical equipment for the new Cambambe 2 power plant.
“Our strategy of offering the customer an integrated approach, and our outstanding work on the Cambambe 1 project, were the deciding factors in the company's decision to choose Voith as the key supplier for Cambambe 2. An attractive, tailored financing package and our solid technical approach, as well as the timely fulfillment of our obligations, also had considerable influence on this decision,'' said Patric Kiehlmann, Project Manager for Cambambe at Voith Hydro.
All four units went into operation at the end of 2016, just four years after Voith received the order . As of now, the total combined output of the Cambambe 1 and 2 power plants will be 960MW.
