A joint venture between the Arab Contractors and El Sewedy Electric has enlisted the help of Potain Lift Solutions to help construct a dam and powerhouse at the new Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station in Tanzania
Two Potain top-slewing cranes are supporting the construction of the new station, located 370 km southwest of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
Completion of the project involves the construction of a 134 m tall roller compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam with a crest length of 1,025 m across the Rufiji River at Stiegler’s Gorge and a giant powerhouse (300 m long, 60 m wide and 85 m high) on the right bank of the river.
Construction began in 2019 and when complete in 2022, the total installed capacity of the power station will be 2,115 MW for the production of 6,307 GWh of electricity per year. It will be operated by Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO).
The two cranes needed to fulfil specific requirements such as the ability to lift 54 t up to 31.7 m to install the stay rings for nine vertical Francis turbines.
Power and performance
The first crane Potain recommended was a MCT 565, which is the second highest capacity topless crane. In the 20 t variant, it offers a height under hook of 66.5 m and 8.7 t lifting capacity at the 60 m jib end. The second crane was the MD 1600. In the 64 t variant, it has a height under hook of approximately 77 m and a lifting capacity of 27.95 t at the 60 m jib end.
Both cranes were configured to be mounted on a travelling platform, moving on a single 300 m long and 10 m wide rail track. Each crane also included a Potain TCL crane operator elevator to provide greater convenience for the operator.
The sub-assemblies of the two cranes were equipped at a pre-assembly area, and then transported more than a kilometre to the erection area located approximately 70 m below.
