The rehabilitation of the Budana hydroelectric power station and the Nizi mineral processing plant in the Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a major project which aims to boost the region’s mining sector. Under the leadership of the general director of the Kilo Moto Mining Company (SOKIMO), Pistis Bonongo, this initiative marks an important change in the energy and industrial landscape of the region.
Despite the financial difficulties facing SOKIMO, the general management has allocated a substantial fund for the rehabilitation of the hydroelectric power station. Three turbines, commissioned since 1940, two of which had been shut down for several years, will be put back into working order.
SOKIMO engineers are in charge of this rehabilitation and have undertaken the task since their arrival on site in Budana on September 21. The parts needed to repair the first turbine were transported from Kampala, Uganda, where the machine is located. This work aims to plug leaks and optimize the power of the plant, essential to the proper functioning of the ore processing plant.
To make this project a reality, SOKIMO has established a partnership with the government of Ituri province, in addition to the support of the local population, particularly that of Budana, the main beneficiary of the electricity produced by the plant. Once rehabilitated, this hydroelectric plant will allow the Nizi ore processing plant to fully operate, paving the way for the production of the first gold bar from December 2023.
This rehabilitation project of the Budana hydroelectric power station and the Nizi mineral processing plant demonstrates SOKIMO’s commitment to developing the mining potential of the Ituri region. By providing the electricity necessary for industrial activity, this project will certainly help to stimulate the local economy and generate employment opportunities for the population.