Hunan Nuowei Technology Co., Ltd

Basic Information

• Location: On the Kaduna River in Zanggeru Town, Niger State, Nigeria, over 200 km from the capital Abuja.
• Project Positioning: Largest hydropower station in Nigeria (under construction/completed); key project under the Belt and Road Initiative in Africa.
• Total Installed Capacity: 700 MW (4 x 175 MW vertical Francis turbine-generator units).
• Annual Average Generation: 2.64 billion kWh.
• Power Supply Capacity: Sufficient to meet the electricity demand of two cities the size of Abuja.

• Sales quantity: 9 sets of grouting recorders, equipped with flow meters, pressure gauges, density meters, heave observation devices, data logging systems, and data processing software

Construction Timeline

• May 2013: Awarded to PowerChina as EPC contractor (contract value: USD 1.294 billion).
• April 28, 2021: Reservoir impoundment completed (overcoming local community disruptions and pandemic challenges).
• March 28, 2022: First unit commissioned.
• September 26, 2022: Second unit stator installation completed.
• December 28, 2022: All four units operational.
• May 25, 2023: Full-load grid connection and 25% load rejection tests successfully completed.
• June 2023: All units grid-connected and ready for commercial operation.
• August 14, 2023: Official handover certificate issued by client, entering warranty period.

Engineering and Technical Features

• Dam Type: Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Gravity Dam.
• RCC Volume: Over 2 million m³.
• Peak Construction Intensity: 135,000 m³/month.
• Construction Method: Direct discharge by dump trucks, motor grader paving, vibratory roller compaction.
• Key Advantages: Simplified construction, reduced cementitious material usage, and lower costs.

Investment and Contractors

• Funding: "Two Preferential Loans" from China Eximbank.
• Contract Value: USD 1.294 billion.
• EPC Consortium:
  • PowerChina (67.5% equity)
  • Sinohydro Corporation (32.5% equity)
• Construction Units:
  • PowerChina's 83 Joint Venture (8th and 3rd Bureau)
• Design Institute: PowerChina Kunming Engineering Corporation.

Comprehensive Benefits

• Power Generation:

  • Annual generation: 2.64 billion kWh.
  • Meets demand for two Abuja-sized cities.
  • Alleviates Nigeria's chronic power shortages.

• Socio-Economic Benefits:

  • Employed over 5,000 local workers at peak.
  • Created over 4,000 jobs during construction.
  • Provided free medical facilities to local communities.
  • Improved security through large-scale employment.

• Environmental Benefits:

  • Reduces CO₂ emissions by 400,000 tons/year.
  • Promotes Nigeria's energy structure optimization and green development.

• Multi-Functionality: Combines power generation with flood control, irrigation, water supply, aquaculture, and navigation.

Project Significance and Honors

• Strategic Importance: China Eximbank's largest power financing project in Nigeria.

• Sino-African Cooperation: Exemplary Belt and Road project in Africa.

• Awards:

  • February 6, 2023: Honored as one of Hunan Province's "Top 10 Sino-African Trade Projects."
  • Praised by H.E. Garba Sani, Niger's Ambassador to China, as an infrastructure benchmark for Africa.

• International Impact: Provides a foundation for resolving Nigeria's energy shortages and improving power supply.

Challenges and Solutions

• Key Challenges: Local community disruptions and pandemic constraints.
• Mitigation Measures:
  • Strict compliance with Nigerian regulations and pandemic protocols.
  • PowerChina completed civil works ahead of schedule by mid-December 2021.
  • Team ensured stable unit operations and passed all tests on first attempt.

The Zanggeru Hydropower Station, Nigeria's largest, exemplifies Sino-African cooperation. It addresses energy shortages, creates jobs, stimulates economic growth, and promotes environmental protection, serving as a model for Belt and Road Initiative implementation in Africa.