Lunsemfwa Canal Disaster & Subsequent Repairs - November 2009

Canal failure: 25-10-2009
 Causes of failure: Seepage and Insufficient Drainage @ Damaged Section



We inspect the damage with Mr. C. Nkaka (Bricklayer).



Mr. Lungu and Mr. Kapambwe start preparing the site.

 


Repairs ~ 31-10-2009. Note Mr. E. Silwamba on the immediate left.

 



31-10-2009: Some water is allowed to pass through the channel

 



7-11-2009 Generation @ 6MW

 



Tempers cooled down from operations upon seeing this raw material.

 


The completed structure complete with Gabion baskets 1-12-2009



Generation at 18.5MW



From right to left: Mr. K. Kachasa (The General manager-LHPC), Mr. I. Chiti (Ops and Maintenance Manager) and Mr. Kamanga (Station Manager-LPS) inspect the site on 2 Nov, 2009.
There is always that feeling we have as young engineers that when you reach a certain level of influence and affluence then you can afford to relax. I know better now. I am grateful for having remarkable people for superiors.
To Mr. Chiti, I say thank you very much for believing in a raw young man, straight out of college (Me). God bless you and your family.
To Mr. Kachasa, thanks for teaching me the that in life you must work hard and even harder as you reach higher heights. May you live for many years to come and see all that is in your rich vision for LHPC come to fruition.
To Mr. Kamanga, we are now in the spot light due to the 6MW turbine coming on board by next February, so your success will guarantee my own. Feel free to wake me up at any time when we have a problem. Most system disturbances are from ZESCO and I know how much you treasure those Francis turbines at LPS. I am here to help. Call on me anytime. Cheers for receiving me as one of your own at LPS.

Sincere regards,

Nathan Mashawu Kanema
 





LPS No.4 Penstock Route Excavation



Plate 1.1: The Completed Excavated Route (On L.H.S)

 

Plate 1.2: Protection of Existing operational Pipes/Penstocks

Plate 1.3: Protection Detail



Plate 1.4: Applying of Expansive Chemical (I am the guy with the stuff)

Plate 1.5: After Application



Plate 1.6: The Following Day after the Reaction



Plate 1.8: The Expansive Chemical Utilized- Fract.Ag



Matters of safety are always very important especially when the risk for fatalities is high. This sign was hand written by Mr. C. Ndesaula right here at Lunsemfwa. Many thanks to him indeed.Our safety record so far has been really good with no fatalities. Each and every day we are learning more about safety, health and environmental issues.  These are then being systematically applied during all operation and project works.



Plate 1.9: Compressor used for Pneumatic Air- Drilling Equipment

Plate 2.0: The Initial Site

Plate 2.1: The Site- 23/11/2011

The slides above show an excavated section along our Penstock route. LHPC is currently installing a new 1 X 6MW turbine to increase the power generation at LPS to 24MW from the current 18MW.
The project has a total budget of close to US$9m.
To achieve this a new pipe is being installed and this is the same size (1.2m D) as the existing ones (the 3 pipes shown above). Hence there will be a total of 4 pipes once works are completed.
On 21st April, 2010, we hence set out to excavate this section while baring in mind that the 3 operational pipes were to be protected from rock debris.
The works took a better part of 10 months and now the site is ready and I cant wait to upload more pictures once the pipe is placed.
A great many thanks to the rock breaking crew for the courage during these works as this is not flat and easy ground.
My thanks to management at LHPC for bearing with us when we couldn't achieve targets on time, for supplying us with every bit of equipment we required and the steadfast encouragement.

Cheers and warm regards,

NMK

LHPC- Lunsemfwa Hydro-Power Co.

LPS- Lunsemfwa Power Station

L.H.S- Left Hand Side

D- Outer Diameter