Country Angola Status Under construction Height 132 m Construction cost 4.3 billion USD Construction began 2012 | Purpose Power Opening date 2018 Surface area 188 km² Impound Cuanza River | |
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Location Gomespan, Erbil Governorate Type of dam Gravity, roller-compacted concrete Similar Capanda Dam, Koudiat Acerdoune Dam, Keddara Dam, Cunene River, Zongo Dam | ||
The Lauca Dam is a gravity dam currently being constructed on the Cuanza River in Angola. It is situated on the borders of Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul and Malanje Provinces. Construction began in 2012 and the first two generators of the 2,069.5 MW power station are expected to be commissioned in 2017-2018. The dam and power station will cost US$4.3 billion, funded in part by the Government of Brazil. When complete, it will be the largest power station in the country.
The 132 m (433 ft) tall roller-compacted concrete dam will withhold a reservoir of 5,482,000,000 m3 (4,444,000 acre·ft). The reservoir will supply two hydroelectric power stations, a main and an ancillary. The main will contain six 334 MW Francis turbine-generators and the ancillary a single 65.5 MW Francis unit. The ancillary power station will operate most often, to maintain a minimum 60 m3/s (2,100 cu ft/s) ecological flow of the river.