The rehabilitation of the Budana hydroelectric power station to supply the Nizi ore processing plant is a major project carried out by the Société Minière de Kilo Moto (SOKIMO). Despite the financial difficulties facing the company, the general manager, Pistis Bonongo, decided to invest in the renovation of this plant in order to guarantee a reliable electricity supply to the Nizi factory.
The Budana hydroelectric power station, in service since 1940, is made up of three turbines, two of which had been shut down for several years. SOKIMO engineers therefore undertook to rehabilitate these turbines in order to put them back into operation. To do this, they moved the parts needed for the repair from Kampala, Uganda, where the machine is located.
The repair of the turbines aims in particular to resolve the leakage problems which affect the power of the plant and to ensure the proper functioning of the speed regulators. For SOKIMO, it is essential to have a reliable source of electricity to be able to ensure the industrial processing of ores.
The rehabilitation of the Budana power plant is made possible thanks to a partnership with the government of Ituri province and with the support of the population, in particular that of Budana which will be the main beneficiary of the electrical energy produced.
The commissioning of the renovated power plant is scheduled for December 2023, which will allow the start of production of the first gold bar in the Nizi region, located in the Djugu territory. Construction work on the buildings and infrastructure necessary for ore processing has already begun, and the completion of the rehabilitation of the power plant will mark an important step in the development of this mining area.
This SOKIMO initiative demonstrates the company’s commitment to investing in sustainable and responsible projects in the mining sector. By improving the electricity supply to the Nizi plant, the rehabilitation of the Budana power plant will contribute to the economic development of the region and the creation of local jobs.
Through this rehabilitation effort, SOKIMO demonstrates its ability to overcome financial difficulties and continue to invest in infrastructure projects essential for the development of the mining industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This also strengthens SOKIMO’s position as a leader in the mining sector, ready to meet the challenges to ensure responsible exploitation of natural resources and contribute to the sustainable development of the country.