Rosatom presents Mini-Hydro solutions for Madagascar

By Wallace Mawire [caption id="attachment_40578" align="alignleft" width="259"] Regional
Vice-President of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa, Viktor
Polikarpov[/caption] Rosatom, Russian Federation’s national nuclear corporation that comprises more than 350 nuclear industry companies and institutions recently presented its innovative Mini-hydro solutions to a number of high level delegates and Madagascan industry during the inaugural Madagascar Renewable Energy and Power Infrastructure Investors Conference held in Antananarivo. Speaking on the side-lines of the two day conference, regional Vice-President of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa, Viktor Polikarpov noted that although Madagascar is endowed with an abundance of natural resources and has the potential to generate 7,800 megawatts (MW) of electric power from hydropower sources, only a fraction is currently being utilized, this according to the latest Madagascar Energy Sector Overview. The government of Madagascar aims to improve the country’s economy as well as living conditions under its Madagascar Action Plan (MAP), but the country currently faces challenges in the power sector. As a result, Madagascar’s government is working to expand its electricity supply and encourage investment in the energy sector to stimulate the economy. The country currently produces 356 MW (hydro) and 150 MW (thermal) of installed generation capacity to serve a population of more than 24 million people. The annual consumption of electricity per capita is estimated at 48.53 kWh, less than one-third of the average for Sub-Saharan African countries excluding South Africa. Mr. Polikarpov explained that the simple and cost-efficient, mini-hydro power plants (HPP) would be an ideal solution for Madagascar considering the country’s huge hydro potential. “The self-contained containerized units can be used in areas that are not connected to the main power grid for financial or technical reasons and can serve either as independent power sources or as an alternative to cost - inefficient and non-eco-friendly fossil fuel generators.” The units which do not require the construction of a dam and have no impact on the environment of rivers and other water bodies are easy to install in very remote areas. Thanks to their innovative design, mini-HPPs can even be installed at discharge channels of water treatment facilities or in-line at mining and industrial facilities. “Each mini HPP consists of a turbine and a set of auxiliary equipment mounted inside a standard shipping container. The containerized design drastically reduces lead-in times and costs of construction,” concluded Polikarpov.