EPC contractor sought for Lilondi hydro project in Tanzania

Bids are invited by 11 January from EPC contractors for the development of the Lingatunda run-of-river project.

InfraCo Africa, the UK-based private sector infrastructure development group, on behalf of Virunga Power, invites prequalification bids by 11 January from EPC contractors for the development of the 4.56 MW Lingatunda run-of-river hydropower plant on the river Lilondi in the Ruvuma region in southern Tanzania.

Virunga Power, the private rural utility arm of the Virunga Alliance, is lead developer through the project SPV, Lilondi Hydropower Limited. InfraCo Africa is funding the development costs and plans to finance the construction of the project, which is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of 2020, according to the tender notice issued on 30 November.

The scope of works will entail design, procurement and construction of civil and hydraulic structures (including a weir with no storage, intake structure comprising a 717 m-long glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) penstock with 1100/1000 mm diameter and an 180 m-long GRP low-pressure pipe with 1100 mm diameter, sand tank, surge tank, powerhouse with two Pelton vertical axis turbines, a tailrace and medium-voltage switchyard), installation and commissioning of electromechanical equipment and, construction of 5 km of 33 kV low voltage line to the national grid substation.

The prequalification phase will short-list up to a maximum of six candidates to participate in a tender, where the most economically advantageous tender is the technically compliant tender with the best price-quality ratio, weighing technical quality against price on a pre-determined basis.

Requests to participate should be sent to InfraCo Africa on behalf of Virunga Power – Lilondi EPC Procurement; Email: bbleben@infracoafrica.com; bernard.moulins@virungapower.com.

The full procurement notice can be viewed on InfraCo Africa’s website at www.infracoafrica.com.