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| March 3, 2010 |
NORPLAN consortium signs contract for Isimba Hydro Power Project in Uganda
The Joint Venture Fichtner (lead) and NORPLAN signed a contract for a study of a new hydro power project in the Nile River in Uganda. The contract is valued at USD 3.8 million (approximately NOK 22 million).
The project will be located downstream of the 250MW Bujagali project presently under construction and entails the feasibility study and preparation of tender documents for the Isimba power plant and a transmission line to Bujagali. The study is scheduled for completion towards the end of 2010.
The Isimba power plant is planned to have an installed capacity of at least 100MW. The water flow rate at the proposed site ranges between 700m3 to 900 m3 per second, and the estimated head is 16m.
NORPLAN will provide the following services: design and specification of the dam, geotechnical engineering, mechanical design and specification of the powerhouse, electrical design and specification of the powerhouse, design and specification of substations, economic and financial analysis as well as input to the environmental and social impact assessment study and resettlement action plan.
The local Ugandan company, Kagga and Partners, will be sub-consultant to the Joint Venture.
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| December 9, 2009 |
NORPLAN signs Consultancy Services Framework Agreement to support SN Power in the renewables market
NORPLAN AS announced that it has entered into a Framework Agreement with Statkraft Norfund Power Invest AS (SN Power)
NORPLAN will be asked to provide specialist consultancy, engineering and project management services related to SN Power’s investments in the power sector in certain markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The framework agreement will be valid for two years.
“Today’s announcement is further recognition of NORPLAN`s expertise in renewable energy and hydropower” said Ove Rusten, Managing Director of NORPLAN. “Through our specialist expertise, I believe we can make a significant contribution to the achievement of SN Power’s strategic goal of becoming the leading hydropower company in emerging markets, contributing to economic growth and sustainable development”
For further information: please contact Elisabeth Lokshall or Ove Rusten, both of NORPLAN AS at +47 21 58 50 00 or
norplan@norplan.com
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| September 17, 2009 |
NORPLAN evaluates potential for large scale, solar power plants
As a part of the framework agreement for energy sector services, The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) asked NORPLAN to assess the near future potential of large scale, grid connected PV projects in Africa.
Large scale PV electricity production is expected to contribute significantly to the world’s energy needs, socio-economic development and reduction of environmental consequences. The study covers relevant technologies for large scale electricity production and focus on the associated costs and benefits.
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| September 17, 2009 |
NORPLAN supports Nord-Trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk in Liberia
NORPLAN has signed an agreement with Nord-Trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk (NTE) regarding consultancy services connected to the energy sector in Liberia. NORPLAN will advise NTE on the situation in the sector based on previous assignments and thorough knowledge of the country.
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| June 17, 2009 |
NORPLAN develops principles for rural electrification in developing countries
NORPLAN completed a project for rural electrification planning in developing countries for the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
The overall objective for the rural electrification (RE) project was to review experience and develop guidelines for rural electrification project planning and development assistance.
Joakim Arntsen, Project Manager for NORPLAN, said “NORPLAN is very pleased to participate in Norad’s RE project. As a global firm with key expertise on renewable energy in developing countries we believe rural electrification will contribute significantly towards meeting the millennium development goals, by contribution to economic development, creation of job possibilities and creation of income”
The final report gave several guiding principles for how to plan and implement rural electrification projects and NORPLAN staff presented together with Norad the project and its findings at a seminar 16th June.
“We are very exited about Norad’s renewed focus on rural electrification” said Solveig Ulseth, Energy system advisor, “the next step now is for Norad to discuss the conclusions and the way for-ward for Norwegian rural electrification engagement”.
In addition, NORPLAN contributed with a sub-project assessing appropriate uses of subsidies and tariffs as instruments in rural electrification to achieve the overall objectives of Norwegian development assistance.
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| June 17, 2009 |
NORPLAN appoints new Marketing Coordinator, Oslo
NORPLAN announces the appointment of Elisabeth Lokshall as the new Marketing Coordinator.
Elisabeth has previously worked as a consultant in Multiconsult’s energy and natural resources department where she was responsible for the company’s carbon market services.
As Marketing Coordinator, Elisabeth will focus on promoting NORPLAN as a leading international engineering consultancy company with specific emphasis on NORPLANs key focus areas; Natural Resources; Industry, Oil and Gas; Water and Environment; and Urban Planning and Development.
Elisabeth said: “I am really looking forward to working with the partner companies, Multiconsult and Asplan Viak, in supporting NORPLANs growth plans in an exciting international market”.
Commenting on the appointment, Ove Rusten, CEO, said: “We are very excited Elisabeth is joining us, and we know she will make a strong contribution to the company going forward”.
Elisabeth replaces Johan Olav Bjerke, who has now commenced his new role as a senior advisor in Statnett, a Norwegian electricity distribution and transmission company.
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| April 20, 2009 |
Pre-Feasibility and Reconnaissance studies, Bhutan
NORPLAN has won a contract for pre-feasibility and reconnaissance studies of hydropower projects in the kingdom of Bhutan in the Himalyan region. The Client is the Department of Energy in Bhutan. The agreement covers the pre-feasibility studies of Khomachhu and Rotpashong hydropower projects in Eastern Bhutan, and reconnaissance studies of 15 sites with hydropower potential throughout Bhutan. The contract is of two years’ duration. Bhutan has ambitious goals for developing hydropower for export to neighbouring India, and for electrification of the country.
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| April 20, 2009 |
Framework agreement for energy sector services
NORPLAN has signed a framework agreement with, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Norad, for consultancy services for energy and natural resources. The agreement is of three years’ duration with an option of a one year extension. The agreement covers both project based services and institutional advisory services for Norway’s support to the energy sector in developing countries.
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| January 7, 2009 |
Newplan Ltd., Uganda
As from January 1, 2009, the ownership structure and name of NORPLAN Uganda Ltd has changed, and the name is now Newplan Ltd. NORPLAN AS has reduced its ownership in Uganda from 75% of the shares in NORPLAN Uganda, to 40% of the shares in Newplan Ltd. The Managing Director, Mr. Lawrence L. Omulen will own 50% of shares, while three key staff members will own a total of 10% of the shares.
We have worked on these changes for some time and they are now in place since January 1, 2009. Newplan Ltd. is a continuation of Norplan Uganda, operating under the same company number, and the stronger local ownership will improve the company’s position in the local market.
Newplan Ltd. will continue to provide services in the same technical fields, and will operate from the same offices in Crusader House in Kampala, for contact details see under contacts.
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| November 17, 2008 |
Akosombo Dam and Lake Volta, Ghana
The Volta River Authority in Ghana have assigned a contract to NORPLAN- together with Royal Haskoning Nederland BV, for carrying out consulting services for Assessment of Dam Safety, preparation of Emergency Action Plan and Environmental Management Plan for Akosombo Dam and Kpong Generation Station.
The Akosombo dam was completed in 1965 creating the Lake Volta, the world's largest man-made lake with an area of 8502 sq. km. The Akosombo dam is 114 m high, the length of the main dam is 660 m and the saddle dam 355 m. The power station at Akosombo has six turbines with an installed capacity of 170 MW each.
The Kpong dam and generation station dowstream of Akosombo was completed in 1982. The total installed capacity is 160 MW. The combined Akosombo/Kpong system has an installed capacity of 1.180 MW. The Kpong head pond has minimal storage capacity and is therefore operated as a run-of-the-river plant in tandem with Akosombo to optimize water use from the Volta Lake. The joint firm energy output from the Akosombo/Kpong hydroelectric development is about 4,800 GWh.
Based on hydrological analysis, reconnaissance, site surveys and other investigations the existing condition of the dams and structures will be assessed. Whilst dam safety will be a prime consideration, shortcomings with the dams which are not dam safety critical will also be assessed.
An Emergency Action Plan will be prepared consistent with the Hazard Potential Classification (HPC) of the Dams.
The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) address the environmental conditions and the human practices that adversely impact on both the dams’ exploitation and the dams’ safety. The EMP will cover the area of the Volta River Basin lying inside Ghana, a total of 168,000 km2.
NORPLAN will mainly cover issues related to the dam and hydropowerstation infrastructure.
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| October 17, 2008 |
SIA guidelines for mineral exploration in Greenland
NORPLAN is, through its partner MULTICONSULT, preparing Social Impact Assessment (SIA) guidelines for the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP) in Greenland. The guidelines will apply to mining companies operating or seeking to operate mineral resource exploitation in Greenland. SIA is a process of identifying and analysing potential social impacts of a proposed development on the human environment, and to recommend measures to mitigate negative impacts as well as enhance positive opportunities. Mining projects can have great social and economic impacts, and an understanding of the interaction between the project and society in general is therefore essential. NORPLAN is drawing on its extensive international experience from SIA processes in the energy sector when preparing SIA guidelines for BMP.
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| October 17, 2008 |
Ruacana hydropower station, Namibia
NORPLAN has signed a contract for services related to the installation of a fourth production unit at Ruacana hydropower station in Namibia. Ruacana hydropower station was completed in 1977, and utilises water from the Cunene River that flows from the Angola highlands south to the border between Angola and Namibia. The reservoir and diversion weir lie mainly inside Angola, while the power station is located on the Namibian side of the border. The power station is presently equipped with three vertical Francis turbines with 83 MW output each and a head of 134 metres.
The station is NamPower’s only hydropower station, and represents more than 60% of NamPower’s total installed production capacity. NORPLAN has been assigned the role as the Engineer for the installation of production unit no 4, including penstock, turbine, generator, and control systems. The new turbine will have an output of 92.3 MW at discharge 75m3/s. The assignment covers advice on the entire process from assessment of the existing structures, equipment, prequalification, tender, design, project management up to commissioning. The services are to be completed by January 2012.
Increased production at Ruacana will reduce Namibia’s dependence on electricity imports from South Africa.
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| May 29, 2008 |
NORPLAN signs contract with WAPDA for Neelum Jhelum Hydropower plant
On 14 May NORPLAN signed a Contract with the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) of Pakistan for design review, detailed design and construction supervision of the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower plant in Asad Kasmir province in north eastern Pakistan.
This high head run-of-river scheme with only a small pondage for the power intake utilises a gross head of about 420 m by diverting the Neelum River water from the village of Nauseri through a 32.5 km long tunnel system to to an underground power station and outlet on the lower limb of Jhelum River. The optimised maximum power station output is 969 MW, corresponding to a designed maximum discharge of 280 m3/s. The optimised project yields an average annual energy generation of 5,150 GWh.
NORPLAN is in Joint Venture with Montgomery Watson Harza (lead) and local companies Nespak, NDC and ACE. The Contract is scheduled to run over 9 years and NORPLAN's share equates to approximately 76 million Norwegian Kroner. NORPLAN has main responsibility for the underground works as well as involvement in mechanical and electrical, and general civils works. The underground works are particulary challenging with nearly 100 km of tunnels with difficult ground conditions and high overburden pressures.
CGGC of China have been appointed by WAPDA as main contractor, and the the total project cost is estimated to more than 2 billion USD.
The project marks a return to Pakistan for NORPLAN after several years absence. NORPLAN were themselves involved in the feasibility study for the Neelum Jhelum project in the mid 1990's and this new Contract gives NORPLAN the opportunity to see the plans brought to fruition.
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| May 29, 2008 |
NORPLAN launches carbon market services
NORPLAN will offer strategic advice on CDM and JI investments and facilitate emission reduction projects by providing technical assistance, risk assessment and due diligence.
The Kyoto Protocol established GHG emission reduction targets for industrialised countries, and offered countries the option of reducing emissions through project-based mechanisms and emission trading. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the Joint Implementation (JI) allows investors to finance projects that reduce emissions within a developing country (CDM), as well as other industrialized countries (JI).
With extensive experience from the renewable energy field, NORPLAN is well positioned to assist clients with the successful development of emission reduction projects worldwide.
NORPLAN`s managing director Ove Rusten says “We are very excited to venture into this emerging market. One thing that will never change is our long-standing commitment to provide a wide variety of services to our clients, and we are certain that all our clients will find our range of carbon market services valuable”
NORPLAN will i.a. offer the following services:
CDM and JI Feasibility studies
Assistance with preparation of Project Idea Note (PIN)
Assistance with preparation of Project Design Document (PDD)
Due diligence services
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| April 4, 2008 |
NORPLAN in the Thunder Dragon Kingdom
The mountainous Kingdom of Bhutan, surrounded by the two Asian powers India and China has a population of about 750 000 people. Bhutan’s GDP has grown strongly at an average real rate of 7.3% since 2000, still poverty remains a serious concern for Bhutan with around a third of its population living below the national poverty line (most of whom in rural Bhutan).
Glaciers in northern Bhutan, which cover about 10 percent of the total surface area, are an important renewable source of water for Bhutan’s four major river systems. Each winter the glaciers are fed by fresh snow and slow melting in the summer brings millions of litres of water to the rivers. Bhutan has large hydropower potentials, of which about 1500 MW has already been developed. An agreement with the Government of India aims at developing an additional 3500 MW for the Indian market. Evidently, the country’s sustained rapid economic growth over the last three decades has been strongly underpinned by large investments and revenue generated from the hydropower sector.
Over the years NORPLAN has been involved in several initiatives in Bhutan, the first being the feasibility study for the Mangde Chuu hydropower project in 1999. In 2007 NORPLAN was responsible for the review of the Norwegian development funding to Bhutan. In 2004 NORPLAN was involved in the study on “Corporatisation of Druk Hydro Power Corporation” which now is implemented. In January 2008 Druk Green Power Corporation Ltd (DGPC) was formed, responsible to accelerate the hydropower resources and economic growth of the country. DGPC is an amalgamation of Chhukha, Basochu and Kurichu Hydropower Corporations.
It is always a great pleasure to work in Bhutan, there is a mutual good cultural understanding, both nations being small with steep and high mountains with large hydropower potential. This has created good working relations over time.
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| March 28, 2008 |
ALTO MAIPO HYDROPOWER PROJECT, CHILE
The project site is located in the Alto Maipo Valley – approximately 40 km south-east of Santiago de Chile.
The Alto Rio Maipo Hydropower Project includes 2 underground hydropower plants, Alfalfal II of 275 MW and Las Lajas of 256 MW, both run-of-the-river projects, with no dams/reservoirs. The water is transferred from the rivers Volcán, Yeso and Colorado, all tributaries to the Alto Maipo River. Available head is 1160 m and 483 m respectively. The plants include 65 km of headrace, tailrace and access tunnels, with cross section in the range of 11 to 43 m2. In addition come approx. 2,5km of shafts, both pressure, surge, and cable shafts as well as underground power houses. All tunnels, shafts and caverns are designed to be excavated and supported according to observational methods. The project also includes 3 high mountain intakes, and electrical and mechanical equipment. Pelton turbines are selected because of the high head and the heavy silt exposure in the region. Transmission voltage will be 220 kV through cables with a length of up to 2.5 km.
NORPLAN was not involved in the project planning or concept design stages, but having top expertise in rock engineering, underground construction technology, and hydropower station development, NORPLAN has been chosen for the position as international specialist within the following defined sectors:
Tunnel works
Mechanical equipment in power house caverns
Electrical equipment
The assignment covers technical advisory and controlling functions for the underground parts. The documents to be prepared are as follows:
Final Design study, including Mapping and Ground Investigations, Tunnel Design, Design base for mechanical and electrical equipment, Co-ordination.
Procurement services until award of contract, including pre-qualification and tender documents for 4 different contracts; 3 tunnel contracts and 1 electromechanical contract.
The Client is AES Gener, Santiago. |
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| February 21, 2008 |
New head-office for NORPLAN
From March 10 NORPLAN’s head office will be at the following
address:
NORPLAN
Nedre Skøyen vei 2
N-0276 Oslo, Norway
Phone.: +47 21585000
Fax.: + 47 21585001
norplan@norplan.com |
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| September 26, 2007 |
NORPLAN has been awarded a contract with Norfund for the feasibility study of a hydropower project on the Fula Rapids on the river Nile in southern Sudan
The project site is located in a remote area close to the Nimule National Park in Southern Sudan. Here the River Nile divides into parallel channels as it flows towards the north, eventually forming the Fula Rapids at the confluence of the channels.
One of the tasks assigned will also be to identify the boundaries of the national park.
Ten persons will be on the team from NORPLAN AS, and seven persons from NORPLAN Uganda. They will cover hydropower, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, hydrology, geology, transmission, environmental and social sciences, power markets and economics.
Norfund, the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, is the Client. |
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| August 20, 2007 |
New NORPLAN Programme for Exchange of Young Professionals, Norway, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda
A new round of reciprocal exchanges of young employees between NORPLAN AS and its counterparts in East Africa, NORPLAN Tanzania Ltd., NORPLAN Uganda Ltd. and Shebelle Consulting Engineers Ethiopia, is under way. This programme is part of the exchange agreement between NORPLAN AS and Fredskorpset in Norway, and represents an excellent opportunity to consolidate the competence of younger staff by providing international experience. The cross cultural emphasis of the programme is a key element to gain deeper and better understanding for development issues and challenges among the employees of the partner firms, along with technical capacity building in our offices.
For one year, NORPLAN AS in Norway will host two participants from Tanzania and Ethiopia, while NORPLAN Tanzania, NORPLAN Uganda and SCE Ethiopia will each host one participant from Norway. One candidate from NORPLAN Uganda will work with NORPLAN Tanzania. |
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| July 3, 2007 |
Planning of surface water drainage, Rwanda
NORPLAN has been awarded a contract for planning of surface water drainage in the city of Kigali, Rwanda. Rainwater is causing serious erosion problems and landslides that provoke damage to houses and infrastructure. The project - covers: Detailed studies and design of first priority work; Technical design and work drawings and tendering documents; Preliminary studies and design; Review of current plans and diagnostic analysis. The Client is the Ministry of Infrastructure in Rwanda with funding from NDF. |
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Fields of expertise
