A new hydropower plant in Uganda, the Kigwabya plant, set to provide a peak power capacity of 4.6MW, has opted for a critical valve solution supplied by Orbinox.
Orbinox, a part of The AVK Group, has established itself as a contributor to over 100 dam and hydropower projects scattered across Africa. Among projects in Uganda is their role in the Owen Falls Hydroelectric Project, now known as the Nalubaale Dam, where Glenfield Valves in 1954 supplied a significant number of valves and gates.
The connection between the Kigwabya project and Orbinox was forged in January 2023 through a LinkedIn interaction with the project's site manager, after he had noticed the company’s activities in the African market for dams and hydropower.
For Kigwabya, Orbinox has supplied:
- Four bi-directional MU wall-mounted sluice gates, each measuring 2000 x 2000 mm, in stainless steel fitted with hydraulic actuators, used as dam gate and intake gates.
- A single bi-directional MU wall-mounted sluice gate, sizing in at 1000 x 1000 mm, composed of stainless steel and equipped with hydraulic actuators, functioning as a flush gate to maintain the plant's operations.
- A DN300 EXV knife gate valve designed for manual operation.
- A DN600 EXV knife gate valve, additionally fitted with a hydraulic actuator.
- Two 2200 x 1600 mm SA stoplogs in aluminium, used for tailrace channel downstream powerhouse.
