The Chicamba Hydroelectric Power Station is an operational hydroelectric power project in Mozambique. The power plant, first established in 1968, underwent rehabilitation and upgrades in 2017, raising its generating capacity, from 38.4 megawatts to 44 megawatts, with prolongation of its lifespan by another thirty years.
Location The power station is located at Chicamba, across the Ruvue River, in Manica Province, near the international border between Mozambique and Zimbabwe. This location is approximately , by road, south-east of the town of Manica, where the provincial capital is located. Chicamba is located about , by road, northwest of the city of Beira, the nearest large city. The geographical coordinates of Chicamba HPP are: 19°09'21.0"S, 33°08'42.0"E (Latitude:-19.155833; Longitude:33.145000).
Overview Chicamba Power Station (44 megawatts) and the nearby Mavuzi Hydroelectric Power Station (41 megawatts), both located in Manica Province were intended to supply electricity to the provinces of Manica and neighboring Sofala, supplemented with power obtained from the Cahora Bassa Dam.
Due to their age; Chicamba HPP was commissioned in 1968 and Mavuzi HPP was established in 1957, much of the original hardware is not available on the market and maintenance was a challenge in the 21st century. For a period of 3.5 years, beginning in 2013 until February 2017, both stations underwent refurbishment and upgrades, with the contractor manufacturing new hardware to replace what could not be purchased on the open market.
Refurbishment and improvements The refurbishment contract was awarded to a consortium comprising Rainpower, a Norwegian supplier of hydroelectricity generating hardware and Cegelec, a French engineering company. Other entities included Hydrokarst, a French company that socializes in underwater inspection and installations.
Construction costs The rehabilitation bill in 2017 for both Chicamba HPP and Mavuzi HPP is quoted as US$120 million (€90 million at that time). The sources of funding are illustrated in the table below:
+ Funding Sources for Mavuzi and Chicamba Hydroelectric Power Plants Rehabilitation Rank FunderAmount in EurosUS $ Equivalent PercentageNotes 1 Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency 30.00 million 40.0 million 33.3 Loan 2 KfW 15.8 million 21.2 million 17.6 Loan 3 Agence Française de Développement (AFD) 44.2 million 58.8 million 49.1 Loan All 90 million 120 million 100.00 Total
See also
List of power stations in Mozambique
References
External links Mozambique Sets Its Sights On Hydroelectric Development As of 24 April 2017.