The SAIC Steel Award-winning ENK Hydro Project.
Location: DRC near Goma, Nord-Kivu Province.

SAISC Steel Awards Citation earned:

Commendation: Macsteel Pan-Africa Trailblazer Award category

The ENK Hydro Project undertook the remarkable journey with the project’s engineering playing a pivotal role in shaping a greener future.
The mission: To harness the power of the river and provide sustainable electricity to underserved communities.

The project comprised of three critical structures, namely:
Hydro Plant Structure
Pre-engineered design to house two massive turbines – basic portal frame design with 14.5m clear span. 35MT overhead gantry at 10m. Frame designed to withstand crane loads. Mezzanine Floor for storage.

Steel bridge Channel:
The project showcased innovative steel design by creating a channel bridge spanning 30m over valley sized 2x2x2 m² supported by 2 sets of internal lattice column structures.

Turbine Rotator:
Rotator structure to assist with tilting turbine of 35T. Accuracy of holes etc. was of crucial importance to assembly.

As the site was not accessible for lifting equipment. All elements had to be designed to be lifted and installed manually or with makeshift pulley systems.
The Roofing and wall cladding was installed steel-framed to hydro plant (pump station).

Located in a wild and security-risk area, the site constraints were daunting and had to be considered in the design of the steel members for the plant and especially the channel bridge.

Client: Energie Du Nord Kivu
Main contractor: Energie Du Nord Kivu
Structural Engineer: JTC Building Systems
Steelwork Contractor: JTC Building Systems
Steel Detailer: JTC Building Systems
Roofing and cladding manufacturer: Safal Steel
Steel profile roll former: Safintra
Steel Merchant: Allied Steelrode

• Steelwork Completed: 1 Dec 2022
• 0.47mm TCT AZ150 Zincal®
• Profile: Trimflute – Safintra
• Area coverage: 2200m²
• Cladding: 20MT