On Oct 6, local time, as the turbines of the generators at the Busuanga Hydropower Station in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) slowly began to rotate and the indicator lights on the generators lit up, the Busuanga Hydropower Station invested, constructed and operated by China Railway Resources Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Group Limited, started generating electricity.
The Busuanga Hydropower Station in the Democratic Republic of the Congo starts generating electricity on Oct 6. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The Busuanga Hydropower Station is the first large-scale energy infrastructure project to take place in over 60 years in the Katanga region of the DRC. It is an important part of the comprehensive cooperation package between China and the DRC, adhering to Chinese standards from design and construction to equipment manufacturing and installation.
With a reservoir capacity of 1.3 billion cubic meters, a total installed capacity of 240 megawatts, and a dam height of 141.5 meters, the Busuanga Hydropower Station ranks among the world’s leading hydroelectric facilities. When all four generating units are in operation, the station is projected to produce an annual average of 1.32 billion kilowatt-hours, accounting for about one-tenth of the total electricity production in the DRC.
Upon completion, the Busuanga Hydropower Station will play a crucial role in providing reliable energy support to mining enterprises in Lualaba Province. The station will not only bridge the electricity gap in the DRC and propel local industrial and socio-economic development, but will also significantly enhance the mining capacity of the country. Furthermore, the surplus power allocated for civilian use will alleviate the strain on local residents' electricity supply and further improve the living standards of local people.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
