First turbine runner installed at Nam Ngiep 1 Project

On 1st December 2017, Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Project (NNP1) successfully placed its first turbine runner for one of two units being installed in the main powerhouse in Borikhan District, Borikhamxay Province, Lao PDR. The installation of the turbine runner was witnessed by management and staff of the NNP1 Project and its Contractors, Minister from the Embassy of Japan to the Lao PDR, members of the Dam Safety Review Panel appointed by the Government of Laos, and Lenders’ Technical Advisers.

The 30-tonne turbine runner, which is a prime part of any hydro-generation system, converts hydraulic energy to mechanical rotating energy, which is further transformed to electrical energy through the generator connected to the turbine runner by vertical shaft.

The main sections of the turbine runner were cast in stainless steel in Japan and were fabricated into one unit by welding and machining at the Hitachi shop of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. After placement of the turbine runner, the remaining parts of the hydraulic turbine and the generator will be installed in strict alignment with the shaft of the turbine runner.

The turbine runner for the second unit is expected to be placed during February 2018.

“The placement of the first turbine runner on schedule is another major milestone for the NNP1 Project as works are now shifting from civil engineering to electrical and mechanical equipment installation, for which equipment assembly is fully ready at various factories overseas,” said Mr. Yoshihiro Yamabayashi, the Managing Director of Nam Ngiep 1 Power Company Limited.

NNP1 is a hydropower project with installed capacity of 290 megawatt which is under construction in the Borikhamxay and Xaysomboun Provinces. The Project consists of the construction of two dams and two powerhouses along the Ngiep River in Borikhamxay Province, in Lao PDR.

Construction of NNP1 project started in late 2014 and involves the four major work disciplines of civil, electro-mechanical, hydro-mechanical and transmission line works which are, respectively, 88%, 88%, 51% and 97% complete. At the end of October 2017, the overall progress of all construction was on schedule at 86%, with substantial completion expected to be by August 2018. Start of electricity generation is anticipated to be by early 2019.

Approximately 95% of the power will be sold to Thailand and the remaining power will be used for domestic consumption.

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