August started strong for our colleagues in Cameroon, as they reached another significant milestone on the Nachtigal Hydropower Project! On Tuesday 1 August, the labyrinth spillway installed on top of the main dam was put into service for the first time.
The process of putting the labyrinth spillway into use is a vital part of the project’s impounding programme, as it manages the water in the upstream reservoir. With a maximum capacity of over 6,000 m³/s, the spillway will play a crucial role in managing water flow during periods of flooding in the Sanaga River. By preventing overflows and maintaining an optimal water level, it also ensures that excess water can be safely evacuated without causing erosion or damaging the dam or power station.
This achievement brings Cameroon another step closer to generating green energy for its citizens. Congratulations, team Nachtigal!
Together with NGE and SGTM, BESIX is taking part in the development of Nachtigal’s hydro-electric project, which aims to cover 30 % of the Cameroon’s population’s energy needs by generating 420 MW renewable energy through water. Works consists of designing and building a 1.5-kilometre-long, 14-metre-high dam wall, a more than 3-kilometre-long supply canal and the civil engineering works for the hydropower plant and water intake installations.
Fun fact!
Did you know that the upstream reservoir covers an area twice the size of Monaco, spanning 420 hectares?