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mi United Nationt Industrial Davttopmtnt Organization

Distr. LIMITE)

ID/WG.305/2 1 Auguat 1979

ENGLISH

Seminar-Workahop on the .Exchange of Experiencea and Technology Tranafer on Mini Hydro Electric Generation Uniti

Kathroandu, Nepal, IO-I4 September 1979

CASE STUDY >•

WAJLISHIKG A PROGRAMME OF MICRO HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER

DEVELOFMHiT POR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION IN SIERRA LEONE»

by

David L.B. Kamara

0OU.Ï.

• Tha viewa axpraaaad in thia papar ara thoaa of tha author and do not neceaaarily raflaot tha viewa of the aeoretariat of UNIDO. Thia document ha. been reproduced without formal editing.

•* Department of Electrical Engineering, Fourah Bay College, Univereity of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Weat Africa.

id.79-5981

- ii -

1. CÜW1ARV--

2. INTRCDUCTIOM

3. OUTLINE LF HYoRiLOGICAL RESOURCES OF THE fUHTRV

4. COUNTRY PCL ICY AND RSCül "CTH FOR THE nevaofjr¿:nT OF r,nc SYSTEM

5. INFRASTRUCTIMAL DEVELOPMENTS AMD LOCAL HANtlFACTUTUflG C -T'ADÌLIT1ES

6. THE GUHA VALLEY FlICRO-HYJROitECTRIC POWER PLANTS

?• TECHf!3-ECC.K0MIC CPFiPARISlNS TCR THE U-E Of NHG ANO niCRO-OlESEL SLANTS

8. THE UNIVERSITY P.HG FR03ECT

9. ANALYSIS OF ACTIVITIES ANO PRCJDECT STRATEGY

10, CONCLUSION

11, REFERENCES

PACE

ill

1

3

11

14

20

24

21

32

34

- Ill - 1 SUf".! ".Al Y

This píipur hag not out to describo tha possibilités and

offortí. being moda in adopting adero-hydro pounr ¿lnnts as tha

bacia for the electrification of the rur.il áreos of Giorra Loom*.

There is no doubt thu fact that tho potential exists for a

widusrrnad installation of micro-hydro pianto in rural Siorra lucine

and that the basic hymon resources and infrastructure nocosaary to

initiato homo manufacturo of some corrponunts also oxists in tho

country. Naturally, there aro many obstacles in introducing

micro-hydro plants c3pociclly for the fact that not many people

realize its potential. Hunco until an installed pilot plant it

•eon to operato successfully! many people will not bo interested and

bocauso of this reason, it will bo difficult to finance those initial

steges from local sources. Thia is the reason bohind efforts at the

University of Sierra Leone to involve Government Departments and ot

•ny stage keop them aware of progross to the realization of tho

project. Onco thu potential valuo of micro-hydro plants is

realised through a pilot demonstration plant, it is expected that

this would attract moro attention. At this stags» it would aleo

be possiblo to involve local rural inhabitants to whom tho amenity

is primarily intondod.

In planning a widesproad application and long-term involwoniont

in midro-hydro, consideration is given tho developments alroady

ettainnd in parts of the developed world and tho possibility of

establishing a local manufacturing, industry. Only then can such

conctruction and installation cost roductiono bo nado as to render

this sorvico within tho purchasing pouor of rural inhabitants,

Manufacturo of compononts at homo provides thn country with an

- iv -

1 industry that is uoll suited to its resources and nouds.

Tho efficiency of such home-built equipment would be louer than

importod units but considerable! capital cost réductions ere

achieved. Such loeel mf.nufacturj.ng effort will require at least

at the initial siages, the technical co-operation find assistance

of outside iMtittttioatuho have had longer experience in MHG plant

technology. binilo stressing tho nood for local manufacture of

components, quality and reliability of equipment are also

important considerations in this programme. Before uidospread

applications in rural communities, any such homo-built plants

must have uoll proven operating characteristics.

To further encourage the widespread inebriation of MHG planta

•nd to increase the usefulness of these plants to rural

inhabitants, the Faculty of Engineering will undertake the

development of suitable equipment that would depend on tho resulting

electricity as energy input. Such applications would includa the

UM of electricity to provide power for small agro-based industries,

blacksmitting and carpentry workshops, pumps fur unter supply and

irrigation etc.

At much as possible, the wider field application of MHG schémas

must be on aided solf-help basis i.e. villagers with jome

Government financial and technical support, must be fully involved

in the planning and implementation of the programme in the form

of providing some of tho costs of equipment and of course providing

labour. Thia is important to ensure that the full benefits of the

scheme reaches the majority of the population if possible free

of charge.

/

- 1 -

IH TR t: oi i.CT_inrj.

Sierra Loona is r.itu toc) an ti» Atlantic Coaat of Unot

Africa from 7° to 1Ü° latitude Worth and from 1U° to 13°

lonrjiturte Wnot. Along the Coast, thorn ere a number of Islande

and paninolo,, tho «oat important, of which is tho 'Jnoturn atoa,

0 ,nou.it,noue aroo ubero tho capital "Fro;toun" is situated.

Tho orna 5U - 100 km. inland, except tho Ueeturn area, oro mainly

plains, co that the Ud*l influence can bo observed up to bO km.

inland. Tho north eastern part of tho country i0 a plateau with

tho tuo moot important mountain mM.lv« the Tingi and Loma

mountain range. Tho peaks of theoo mountains reach up to 1850

and 1950 meters above son level respectively. Tho climate is

tropical with a .et or rainy season la.ting fro, April to November

ond a dry ooaeon for tho balance of tho year. A uida fluctuation

occurs in stream flou batucan tho dry and wet eeoeone. Some etream

ell but dry up during a prolonged dry eoason. During the wot

.„.o.„ thoeo o,• être,«, occasionally overfly and beco,» raging

torrents. Oue to tho humid climate and an average rainfall of up

to 4,onO nvn per year (amongst tho highest in Africa), tho dr,inago

network io very dense. The primary drainage of tho plateau belt

18 roughly from North to South, with a secondary drainage from

East to Ueet. These drelnagoo descend from tho plateau bolt

towards the coast, occasionally in a series of falls, cacados and

cátamete. About 80'; of the land aroa of the country lies within

r. m tor rivera. Koat of those rivors cascado tho watorehoda of sovon major rivtu.

doun tho relatively strop break from tho plateau bolt to tha

intercontinental bolt, deploying extenoivo natural pou-or potontiol.

Although tho country in blessed with an .ibundnncu of uator

rooourcno „apocinlly for uicro-hydro electric echones, *«ry litLle

hoe boon d.m„ oo far to develop them. Tho development of potenti,!

- 2 -

micro-hydro sites is a key ao^et for Sierra Loonn and will go a

long way to providing power in rumi «roao. Several minorai

deposits hr;vo boon discovered in different ports of the country,

tha most important of which arc .illuvi.-il diamonds, iron oro,

bauxite and rutilo. Unfortunately, fiera ero no energy minorala

like coal or oil. Thus enorrjy development is of primary concern

for the country. But in developing a statogy to moot futura

energy demends, it must bo emphasized that of a population of

3 million, three qunrtoro of those live in rural »rose and those

depend directly on agriculture for thair livelihood. In Sierra

Leone, the electricity capacity and consumption ¿ire low.

Installed capacity at the end of 1971 was 86.6 mw, with a

production of about 217 million kwh. Tarriff ratas are relatively

high, averaging 7.0 cants par kuh in Freetown und 10.0 cents in

the provinces. The cost of eloctricity being GO high, many rural

areas because of their remoteness from existing supplies, and

because of low earning power of its inhabitant, hardly benefit

at all from electrification. A decentralised system of micro-hydro

electric power generation offoro many advantages for electric poues

supplies to theso areas. Hitherto, only twe micro-hydro schemes

are in operation in the country. Both are part of a multi-purpose

•chôme at Guma Valley in the West of Freetown. Tho primary purposo

of the Guma Valley project is to próvido domestic water supply

for Freetown and its environs. This paper mainly concarna efforts

being made in this country, to introduce micro-hydro power development

ae the basis for the widespread electrification of the rural artas

of Sierra Leone« Uhore it in necessary, reference uill be made to

the two oporating plants in tho country.

F

- 3

PUTII tv or !:\'i':v ur.i'.Ai .c^nvirví; ;r THI: I:í!', Tì<Y

With its fc'.v.vv r.-iinf:.lJ arni magari tor'Ofir-.phy, Sim-n Leone

hue a W.'Uìì wat* r ?'-".er ifiVrnt ini, the bulk of »mich recurs on tho

largo ri ver ry.A.nn;:» There nrc rilen i.uiny r.iteo *.uitablu for tho

installation or iniuro-hydrn nlfttric piante. A major jn¡ uriit.iont

to uuter ru:,rnjrccü dovniop'U'nt has bci-n the lack of basir; rjntn«

Hyriroloric as uoll a:; Mt'lciorolo.iical observatory et^iema havo tu;cn

few and inadequately ciiuippori. Pn-r ancone to thó rodato areno

hnmpnrs tho ¡.nttirwj up of thecu utatinnr», and there in o scarcity

of trained -jtaff to collect nnd compilo nccrssary data.

Prior to 1061, tho colloction of hydrological dato uns mostly

limited to uccurr.mulation of i.iütcurolcgical data. Until the end

of 1rJ70, tho existing hydrolonical data in tho country uas

inadequate; no current meter noanuranonts had buon carried out,

BO that thur-3 ueru no stago/discharge rolatiora nvnilabc and it **'J

impotsciblo to not any accurato run-off ruyultü. Son» flou

mcaaurcinantc had buon prrformnd earlier by tho London based

Howard Murnphroya iionaulting C-ujincoro but no records ;iro av/. ilnhlr.

In 197'i, an nv lu.ition of tho hyi.irolanj.cnl potential of the country's

main rivorr. ur.a undortakon by flntnr-Cnlumbuc CoHtiultirirj tnginoorc«

Thu evaluation uas based on existing racordu together with

meteorological and hydromotric dota from Guinea and Liberia .

As thoce thrco neighbouring countries havn vnry similar climatic

foaturçc, the study provided reliable results cspocinlly on monthly

discharges ;md probable diacharncs of uet and dry periods and on rlood

flows for the moot pronir.ing sites. Hascd on thcao findings,

20 aitea uoru .iclr-nLirir-d having an nnnrcgatn potenti.il of 1,150. mw

and it har. brun rnco*..f:i!..*ndMd that thrru of tho s o arc to bo dovolopud

- 4 -

as tho firr.t phrin to provide tho baco gonuration capacitioo for

threo regional système which in tho long torm would themselves

form tho nuclous for a national grid system. Some details of

computed hydrologicai dato for the year 1971 for five of tho

proposed sites i;» uiuw(. J.II •aule .. But in those studiosi only

larger hydropouer schemes i.o. more tiian 10 mu were considered.

Nevertheless, the country offers a consideratalo potontiol for small-

scale hydropouer plants and it was pointed out in the report that

although a complete inventing of all tho sources fpr nicro-hydro

power was not made numorous such sit»r were observed. Those would

competo by far mors favourably uith small thermal power plants.

It may not even be oxagoeratod to say that in general, the

topography of Sierra Leone presents bettor chances for micro-hydro

plants thon for bigger schemes with the exception of a few sites.

Small hydro schémas e.g. up to 1mw, can be designed to operata either

on the minimum discharge in the dry soason, or utilize small etoraga

roservioirs which are easior to realize.

Since 1971, a hydrologist of the UNDP has carried out

measurements as weU as the erect on and operation "f additional

•tatious in the country. Also, realising tho importance of basic

hydrologicnl data, s hydrologiccil society has bean created, with the

objectives of developing a brooder programme to collect, compile

cr>d publish this information in tho form of an annual hydrological

raport. Surface water investigations are now being undortakan to

obtBin flow measurements and rivor stage heights to serve tho

purpose of long-torm development projection for various usee of water

resources. Also, rivor discharge measurements aro carried out at

a few sitos which are equippod with.* stroum gauging equipment.

1

1 - 5 -

By v/irtiK' tiT tin; i.cri ou••.m.\'¡ü aLtrch d to tin: rfuvolopn.i>rtt

Of the country's liy ro-po -or rurotifccs» ;t WW r.-xp-rt» h-ivinn. nido

cxppriiMT.f; in i>r»nrtiy .".yr;tLin-, fl.-mninn in African countrirn ti, u

recently bivnn, .¡si.i.rjriutJ to tlio Ministry of Tnorriy ;wj Pot. or t to

ns;:-ii t md rdvico Govornmont on thu strategy to bo ndoptod in fully

utilizing tho. country's* hytJropoucr ronnurccr.»

- 6 -

TABLE 1

HVOflOLuCICAL DA ."M FOR FROSPOSEO DAM SITES

1

Catchment Aso» Km

BuîiQUf.'A

3,700

KAM01A RfflCOU ROMA DEfiKCNGOA

2,050 7,400 290 6,500

Average Discharge •} monthly mtye.

Denuery 23

February 10

March t

April 7

nay 25

Duna 115

Duly ISO

Auguet 255

September 310

October 275

November 140

December 50

b) Annuel

Normal 115

Dry 80

Wet 160

c) "taxifMJM Flood 1.1

12 50 2.6 45

S 23 1.7 26

4 21 1.6 23

4 19 2.0 24

13 53 3.2 53

50 28C 10 190

75 410 15 290

90 B60 26 430

140 630 30 530

130 700 23 490

75 310 13 260

27 110 5.8 100

12 305 11.5 207

36 210 8.8 150

73 430 14.S 280

550 3,210 110 1,800

- 7 -

1 ci-uüTnv ILLVTY M.n ìH'^CIS n »; n" ni" ;.F riîii SYJT.

Tho tj;-iv:rnr,r.->nt • y stated pi^'cy calle for tho uc :>t.iaii:.atiun uf

ccunupác .-jeiivily, tiith au . • .ph~:*i .r on i iv.rovH nr¡ tho qu. lity of life

in rural ;;rc.i:; thm;¡-h ericltt/ral rf'r.v.K-.p'^nt and t.!m stipulation

of village-level industry, (lut if nudi cJavolop',r>nt iu to have a

major "ffcuL on tho rural Majority» energy U\ï;:A he ; ase available

to them in a dispersed form arri t. lov cost. Ai; o 'jenrrul input to

infrastructure development md in aos.tstins lncal r,rr_ ll-;,cale irduiitrio:

olortrj fie ition ivnkc high irv in; ortancr-. At ¡rer.ent, rural

electrification if thin naanr, the supply of electricity to tini

villauoe in which rur..l conn unities live, dous not oxiut in any forrt

nor iü there any Govornnnnt. policy ..:; tu hou this >. ouJd bo achieved»

If any ouch dovei oprriontr; are to be implemented in the n r future,

it is most likely that rumi electrification will t ko the form of

decentrali sod supplies. ElnctriFieiit ion is normally acniavud by

•xtendinrj tho national tltctrlcity cupply nrid to tho rural area

frum tho nearest rjenaratiho. facility or throunh tl.j in-tnllution of *

small diatstl (-¡uncrating plant, whilst an interconnected national

grid nyôti'iT) ,,ould have r,„iny operational advent., co, the ucenomic

bncio for r.ucln o system dons not y it oxict in thr> country.

Even for a d-centr; lisod scheme, t ,riff ratns uill haw» to bu very

low tf ouch lichnr.ns are to huvo any real success, in terna of rural

oloctrícity tknaiids and a tjenc-rul in.. rovo...ent in tho noci 1 and

ocononicr-,1 statue of th rural population, Thin loaves tho o; ti one

of heavily sufctidlzed «ltotrioal supplies to rurrl areas, or for

comr.iununlly financée) schrmor. through aided c lf-holp nffnrts.

- 8 - 1 The emphasis in Government policy to promoto economic and social

developinunt through aided self-help methods would favour the latter

alternativo but only where the cur.ts involved aro within tho

capabilities of the rt.- 1 comnunitiiis concernati. Fortunately the

gonorol topqar-phical font.ires of tho country is such th.it such can .the

be achieved in n.any rural arene by oxploitintj/snall-scnlo hyavopouer

potential of tho country. Investigative work on micro-hydro electric

power plants specifically for loi-coat decentralized rur 1 oloctricity

oupplios, currently unueruoy in the Faculty of Engineering of the

University of Sierra Leone is likely to have a major impact and a

stimulation of Government attention. A recent circular in tho farm

of a letter on the activities of tho Faculty in tho field of micro-

hydro-pouer development, to key Government Ministries suggests on

felt need for a comprehonsice long-term programme of rural electrification

with established pirorities of projects integrated with the overall

national development plan.

Hitherto, diMel sets h-.ve been used mainly to provide electricity

supplies to largor settlement in rural areas. It has been further

proposed to set up micro-disssl stations in other set.laments and

smaller villages that are not yet electrified. But the energy crieio

in 1973 end tho ever increasing cost of fuel oil, together with th«

•normous operational difficulties in addition to the low earning power

of village inhabitants h<-• not encouraged any further installation

of (Jtosel plants to serve rural communities und may cause Government

to reconsider its plans by considering other alternativa««

Ronowed interacts in micro-hydro power plants therefore sess»

opportuncd for further invostigâtions into their suitability as a"

substituto to thermal plants. A mention of tho suitability of micro-

hydro plants for rural electrification in Siorra Leone, in a recent

- 9 -

UNDP rnport on the u\.> Lnrjthtcnino, of the Siurra Lnono El ctricity

Corporate un mi;-,ht fur,tur r.tir.ulíjtc nówemnient interact and ito

adoption in t.ho near futuro. It won roco¡rnQi)dnü that duu re'j.-ird

muet bu paid tu thu pj^. ibln UM> of ^ma.11 la/ui-o-cicctiic plnnts in

locations that nrc ot prm.unt «othnut olractricity r.uppliosi but

uhero tho oi.t.íiblishr.i-jnt of .such plantr» n:ny hncuniu ccuiiouically

fnaaiblc. Tho voluu of auch micro-hyjro plinto lia* not only in

avoidunco of fuul co'.t:., ;mr) tho remote-noes of much of tho

population from .::ny form of public pounr cupi ly, hut also tho

froodum they givo to the rur. 1 c:oii.f..u^ity to prono ahcod with

development nltr.our.h their n^ighbiuirs run y bo iiuJiff...1 ont.

Micro-hydro pewrr cJovnJoprocnt h.-'.n been hniii;;orcd by a numbar of

roasons. Tho bunofits of low long-term oporatinrj core -ind non—

dopondoncy on tho availability of fuol :iro over-oiicdowed by tho

relatively lowor initirjl costs of dicrnl plont which allow limited

capital funds to bo o; road mora uid^ly. Also, the shortage! of

tochnicol personnel ;T*d tha comparatively lungor pnriod of timo

rcquiro for sito r-xJ hydrologj 1 invaliti gat ione avour tho quick

and roln-ivoly straight forward choice of dicjol equipment. Thoco

oro indcod true whero traditional designs aro those ;idi ptod for

fflicro-hydrc po'ior duvelopr.ient. Such a otrrtogy would in fact demand

a prohibitively hi<;h cai,t of electricity to the rural consumer to

whom the v lue of scrvico might not bo particularly high. Cxpurionco

in ooma parto of tho world thou thnt home-built or assembled equipment

without sophisticated regulatora and novornorc Often forno

aatiofactorv aubatitutaa»

Uhoro c micro-hydro pounr schown is dcvolopod and fin^ncod

communally through "n lf-h.-l " offnrtc, i.li.:oot everybody is a potential

ur.or. In tornir, or ocinl vrqrr.ir, ,t,ion, villoma or parto of largor

toi/nr. c;."i bo viered nr, an entire co; r, unity u th en, munit y - J cuoi

noceto .Miri p./.t. rn:;. of Oünmlwp. in ; .my rural areas of Sierra leuno,

thoro will bo found groups of penpl» who art related to uaeh othar

through tios of common descent. Other aosociation within and

botween vJlagos also exiet o.g. raft-«ombers, reHqrous rjroupa

ate. and can bo tha baais of acquisition of olactrically oparated

davicaa a»d ind1 stria©. Of considerable importanco JnoweVar, ia the

doewatic group i.o. the household and fnmily, b-^cauaa thay foro •

baaic unit of eaaaaajptlos, distribution and production.

1

1 - 11 -

INFRASnJCTUnAl ¡JEVELUPNEHTS An LOCAL MANUFACTUfTNG CAPABILITIES

Ths most significant infrastructural facility that will haue

or major bearing on offorts to local manufacturo and assembly of

micro-hydro plant components is tho Siorra Loons National Workshop,

Ths workshop Li fully ounod by tho Sierra Leone Government and it

waa conceived to make use of availoblo valuablo accota i,o« mochines

and buildings of the now defunct Railway Deportment and to utilizo

ths Technical manpowar skills of its trained porsonnel particularly

those of the former loooaotive maintenance workshop. The Railway

Workshop had being the training ground for a good percentage of the

country's skilled nrticana over the years in a variety of Tradoa and

Technical sills. The first teak of thia chango over waa tho

tranaformation of tho Workshop from a maintenance unit to a production

unit* The) original workshSf) was basically a Departmental maintenance

unit designed and «quipped for the maintenance of Railway loncmotivaa

and Rolling stock. A number of machines that were not suited to the

needs of e production unit otherwise than for Railway purposes ware

removed end those that tuera, suitably located. A vnriety of

implements are being producod prosently in the Uorkshop, Thoce

include hoes, axes, rakos, piólos« shovels, stovos and many other

agricultural tools, domestic applicances and home decorative itoms.

The uorkshop comprises many soctiona approprisi« to a large

workshop. These include Blacksmith, Copper Smith, Carpentry,

Electrical, foundry, General Operations, Machine, Millwright, Plating,

tools and gauge makers.weeding, vehicle maintenance and ropairs, wood

working otc. In particular, the Foundry focility at the Workshop

gives tremendous dimensions to the capacity of the workshop, both

in quality production and variety for major items that would fors vital

- 12 -

component« o , rnicr :-l ydro „.ir!^, tr-rc'-oct. foil inn

negotiations conclura! in 197* for ^n-,,ic .ir,d T„rl,nir.;,l co-or^ntJon

between the .:u„..ri,n r^ie'e ¡ c,,..:^ < n f,u C:.,...n,o,:L of «Ierro

LMOncí, thü uCKl.:-„r; ,,:-. -OC. .l¡/ S- ^-> -^> ^ ^•i•0 °f

thrM nunr,,ri.:n tnchni.-.J ui.J ex;.-it*. ¡'.a of th. r.r- • orts i« o

opcci.-.Uot ir round.u-v T^chno'cry n.-d Uu- others ara .„ucl.v.nical

Enrinanrr.; onr ci-r.i al i ..in-; in Prediction Cnnín^nrinn and the othor

in the n.-.úr,tcn:^c^ of machine. ¡Uh M,, Gx;.?,rt.i:e of tho•

Tnchnie.il A'.d porr-onnc-l, n»,u tnrhanoni:.r. in Foundry work u.n.

tho thell '.'.n-iHinr, end l«ït wc:: c-fàinr; r.iotl.Oíis íTO oci.n to be

introduced nrul tho founder fumare 3rd cuunl:. undorrwed. Thooo

dovoloi.unntc will incru.r.r und improve tho WOVK^V* i5cn;H. and

quality of production to tho point that • Woo vr.ri.-ty nf product»

hithorto being imports into the country will be locally produced

for domestic consumption und the eoontunl nxr-cr*. t* neighbouring

countries» < - th« ro^-r-t, tir «•«tow'. «r< ' <. i • r

for ite POL. natori.il». Throo a:e in abandonee o«,r! thorn is no

inmodinto di.n0«r or crit.icr.lly i-br.t applico in ».ho nc¡.r futuro.

Tho conjior.ontó of thu mierchydrc il..nt with tho gronteot

pttonti.-iUti.no for local mnufucluro aro tho tm-nino and r.nainn.

A governing cy^t*.,. can also bo dov.loprd th.-.t could bo manufactured

or assembled lncnlly. Ponaos, dan«, uo.rc i-hrrro r0! uirod, can bo

constructed fvr*. locr.Uy awiiï«hlt motori/.lt. B» jonorctor cnuld

porhap» tin iniUnJly iuportcd but if a vdd-pr.ad pron;« to install

micro-hydro nennrntinn sr.hcmcr. Q.-i'i& cr.ot.nh ;-.cr.cplonce, it could

become Jur.tiTj bio to r.rt up a forgio'- 'ir u;.r, ^ t hn ::l«ctrical

MCtlon nf the i:atio.i.,l v rk.hop tc build nnd wind :.n,ll «ltnruatw«.

Th«, CiTit.il iPv.-:-.tr.rnt in • uch .- pl.~nt :.:* net be very nrr :.t aS

• lnctricaî -uchinury • •nulacturc w \* or-pnis. d on labour - intonr.iwo.

M»ll-»Ml«-..--u-.. H i . ....w.--.;rrd t-t uni.cr.-.coio of *ho r.ruiil.loco

- 13 -

typa would be moot suitable ainre these require lose maintenance.

Alio, sis-pole mnchinoc will bo given primary considerations becaus««

these tend to last longer as thoy nood not be driven 03 fact as

their four-polo counterparts. In addition, both diroct coupling

•nd the uso of pullcye and bolt drivos for speed increasing aro to

be investigated. Decauso tho range of power ruquirenmnts and the

topologicel feoturos around tho country are so diverse, it will be

worthwhile to investigate tho possibilities of manufacturing all tho

options of Ion* medium and high head turbinos. Poitou uheele aro tho

only installations in the country presently; but low-head propellor

or kaplan fixed blade turbia« also havo great potentialities bota

from the manufacturing as wall as the applications points of view.

Besides the advantage of high specific spood, therefore needing less

gearing up to drive the generator, the kaplan turbine requires low

material content und has the important foeturo of widely-spaced blados

which can readily pass leaves, debris or fish. ..ucause of construction

difficulties, the manufacture of Francia) turbines which or« beat ot

high and iridium loads; ore not likoly to be undertaken 30on and not

until sufficient skill and facilities have been acquired.

Inexpensive coatings could be ap;liad to rnnder th¿ components

resistant to erosion and corrosion. In all cases, multiplo plain jeta

rather than complicated and costly adjustiblo apear values will have

many constructional and operational advantages especially at the

aural level. Tor such systems, conreo control could be achievod to

éâtta* for seasonal or lorv-term changes by switching in and out multipli

turbincc or the number of nozzles deployed tilth a palto» wheel.

fina end instcntanoous control could bo achieved by means of an

electronic controllar.

1 - 14 -

ne C\KP, uái.Lr:Y í;I;:;?U"í;Y,:,;I ¿.t i.^riìj... fi un PI./UíTS

Gui'.-• Valley in látu.'trd ahnut m i:i],:r. Mont of tho rentra of

"Ootui'Ci. In 10:""'; t it, »,!••:; pviipfi-.eil l.o iJrvoK'p tho trcranciriuü water

-potanti.'J. of this valley to «t pfily the crowing domestic nut'ds of

Freetown end its environ;., An eectb d.-.i.i u.-.o built in 196(1 ami this

Wctr, oxpandet) in 1965 to crante n J ;=ku h vinci a maxinen c.pacity ef

4BP.fi million eollniiu and thu onventml nuJntoinahlo yield of 20 mulini)

gallons por day, which at that timo far uxcended tho rnrjiiiromentr.

for Freetown and its onvirens, The d n war. constructed to full

capacity in tern;, nf physical and ncen nie t,i¿e of the laico and taking

into consideration any abnormi.1?y hieb yields in thr; forcible future.

Thuro was thus tho possibility of the "ai.er .vesom-cus àf tho lako

serving a multi-pur pone use at least in tho immediate futuro aftor

ito construction but kr epinrj in mind the: fact that provision of

adequato domestic supplies (j..a thu primr.ry abjective of the scheme,

Powor production un .. s.iijli-^.uu mat 'nest suitable on account of

comp,-¡roble ne-ode for other alternativas to uhich tho surplus nut or

rooourcos cou.:d bo put. This do-:!' inn was based on Engineer inn. and

economic considerations in approving alternative and complementary

uaor. aa well na in obloininn. tho inherent economy and gnat or utilisation

of resourcus. In so deine;, tic plan formulation naa primarily to p an

and develop thu water r.upnly schnno and to plan tho pouor nonrrating

facility to Mjitch the ei.nUitions exislinn at tho dam cito. I;no

foaturo of tho dnaien of tho unter supply scheme uas tho installation

Of a micro-hydruol ctric plant having a capacity of 100 ku to servo

tho oiieroy rcniuirer.ants fir thu u.ter purification plant. Thus tho

water tupply ~flv:f»r, ues independent of tho public electricity supply

system. In addition to this, the Sierra l.eonr electricity CnrpuratUn

insl. Mod a :••.:'. rr.u plant that •;. pen e<j on the availability of surplus

water in tha lako to próvido its motivo pouor. Accordingly, the

generating copocicy of uui plant LUS cho;,un u^ng into considera Li on

futuro naode for th.; reinforcement of tha domestic wntrr supply and

the expectation that when Ine laka cm no longer accumulate surpluses

lnamiUble uiütcr, there wuuM have been un.uoh nenaraticn from elsewhere

08 to render tho fJuma hydru-ponor plant only for standby purposes.

Unlike the If.rijer 51CC plant, wator u-.ed to pouor tha prime mover of the

100 kw plant is ^turned into tha procurino plnnt, so th t nn water is

wasted. If LhB Si::c; plant is to bo rully utilized throughout ths

year and if euch operation is to continuo in tho near futuro, this

feature of the 100 kw plant n.ust bo incorporated in-.o its dosign.

This feature would elso oo very desirable ih on integrated rural

development project and it is envisaged that where possible, future

plants will take this form.

These tuo installations are tho only currently operating small-

hydro p." nta in tho country. A tho components " tho hHG plants are

of British origin. In addition to thae, a small-hydro plant having

an installed capacity of 3.4 m at Oodo in ti.e Kcncma District is

presently under investigation by Chiocco tcchnic .ins. The dot. i Is of th.

construction features of this plant «ms not available at the time of

writing this paper. This plant rnir.ht not be unconnected with an

earlier country wide survey of stnall-scale-hydro sites which was carried

out by tho Chinese but tho rosults of .hich uere not published.

Both the Cuma micro-hydro installations are imported units and they

have been in use evercinco tho second-phaso of the ochóme uas

commisciunrd in 19'-6. The SLCC unit has oversinco operated for more

than 25,nnC hours. Since tho primary objective of tho Huma Valley

Ustar Company is to provide domestic uator supplios, the SLEC plant

oporttos only uhon tho available water in tho reservoir is in excess of

tho demand by ü :>.-JTO M.T(;'n. Cona^u ntly, the pl;.nt sup lit".. potior

only in thtï wat :,c:^cr, r • ' • i Lui y - i •: .v .V a 1" tr :ì ye,ir.

Also, an the city nxp uni:, and the; d.:r.iand for domestic tiauu- innn.ar.or,,

tho pow-r generating facility at this; plant ri3 3 hn gradin 1.1 y phai'-od

out, until at auch n tii.ic when auvp.Ur; urlor in cuounh qtiantiti i:r; uill

no lonnnr he available to run tho plant. Vr.tr.r for runninrj tho plant

is draun through a 3G" di'm.utor pipe from tho bottom of tho dam wtirro

tho motor ia highly polluted. Tin) plant is a pultun uheel

instnllation oparotii.u, on a head of approximately 3JO ft« Tho generator

is a threo phaac, 4~polo, slip-ring ayriciironeua typa niachin;» vith a

horizontal abaft and it ia foot mr nte:!, with an in:.; tal lud e,-;;..--.city

of 2,6 mw at 0,0 pouor factor. The nut put ir~ at 11 kv, f>ü hf end it in

designad to operato at 750 r.p.m. .normal and a maximum operating npcod

of 1450 r.p.m. for uhich nn ever speed device ir, providod. Thu turbinu

chnft is directly couplca to the generator shaft, thus making tho

eyctom moro o¡ 'icinnt and troubl-j fro , com¡ .'.red uith ai / link tbrourjh

gears or beltc.

Tho nonorator in aereen protected and has f.i'0 pedectel uator

cooled bearinga with journal pad a of tho tiitig typo and lubrication ir.

by oil acoopnd out af tha rcanrvoir in ti.u podcatal by maans of a

ecooped ring nn tho r.hoft. The excitar in^lr-n screen protected uith

an output of 52 uolta and 361 amperca. Uhon it uaa cumuiaaionud, tho

plant nus originally controlled from thu : LFC control crnt.ro at Kington,

through a pi)nt link. Cut for thu 3 act feu ynarn, there had boon

somo faults in tho pilot link and tho control system lias since been

put out of aoivico, so that thu plant ia prone ntly started ¿nd ahut

down m.'.nuaJly uhon necessary. Since ita inception in 1%7, no major

operational pr. blowa h ue he on onceun! ored wut thu hydraulic part

of tho turbine and the i.-ain r-hmt—off v.due am nou in a ,oor condition.

1 - 17 -

Detrimental cavitation noise occurs From thn turbino housing indicating

that cio age uill or.rur p ssiblc uithin tho nrar f ture. The mechanical

ports of tho turbin!:, thu gonorator and the owitchgoor are in good

ordor.

The design of the smaller unit having an installed capacity of

100 ku is'similar to tin. ííLLO plant. This plant io ^1300 exclusively

to provide power for tho uatcr treatmunt. plant at tho works.

Because of its relative import.'net:, this unit has been regularly well

maintained and no major problems had arizor: yet, nor oro there any

problems foraaaan in tho nonr fuLuro; although the plant is almost

always engeged. Uator io fod into tho turbino housing of the plont

through part of the: main pipo lending from the lake on to tho treatment

works* Thus both the water thr-t is urod to power the generators and'.

any surpluses are treated and fod into tho uator supply system.

The generator is presently undor-utilized but as tho demand for domestic

water supply incrcac.es, output from tho generator uill also be

increased. Ber-idm-,, thr- treatment plant, is provided with tuo standby

diesel generators having installed capacities of the 6ame order aa the

hydro plant.

It ib difficult to estimate thu installation costs, cost par

ku of energy for tho Gumn Valley micro-hydro plants; because these

ware part of the more important meter supply schema. The detalla of

exact costs of tho installations ore not u-'ailoblo from :.ecrods, but la

in 1967, tho cost of equipment for the SLEC pUnt/ostimated at

¿500.000. Ihis givon an installation cost of /200 por ku of installod

capacity. This figure will of course br? much lose if less sophisticated

hone built -turbines and other auxiliaries woro usod or where the

installation of thn pi ont uas by a voluntary national organization.

18 -

Bocíuun thn GL CC pi ont oppiwi.ur; jiily Gì;:- ¡Months in tho- year, it hoc

not b on rogu'.arly ir.infca.niorj MIL"! fio 'ìf':\:. : ; .. ,.: o\i..ih..ula on

maintenance cüt.ts. Thio in rericintod in thn fact that einen tho

nocacary routing inainttmanco hcu net U-un a-Jhurod to, particularly

whon tho plant is idle, tho pi. nt has hardly L-oin- through mc third

of itt; useful life cran whfjnfnrta-.oon n;i¡T.I1 i una! iiirficu.lticio bon in

to manifest thum^elv.s. Cn thn OMVü- hand, tho rola'.ivu importance of til« , 100 kw plant has attracted regular maintenance -and propor caro. H»nco ita cn.oolh running to finte. The running coats

for this plant ia L tirraturi at /1 ila".OH por annum, less thn cost of

supervision cinco it r'orma only a minuta part of the largar uator

supply sdamo. An on ti mate or the savi mir; marie through aaa of tho

100 ku micro-hydro plnnt can bo attained !,/ considering thn cost of

running tho equivalent dioscl plant which servo:; the» treatment plnnt

ao standby. It is estimated that thn avrragu fuel ruguircments for

tho continuous operation or tho dictai plnnt would ho 4PH litre« a

day which aj: : -csont cofcts would give "ibQ.OU. 11 n tho ' hor hand,

it coats virtually nothing to run thn hydro-plant since wat or used

to firovidc its notivu powor ir, fed into the treats nt plant. Thus

tho avororjo oavingo on fuel alone is in the region nf ^S5ff!0(J por

annum.

The total coat of tho 3.5 m plant tn be installaci by a Chincao

team at Dodo has bi:on ostinatud at /3.4. Thio gives ap;roxinntoly

jftOttO.PO por ku of installed capacity. Lihcro labour is provided,

this figuro can bo as low ¡in JÍGÜOVÜ per ku nf installed ca| rcity.

For tho cyrturns that aro being planned for .1 ca.! Manufacture, it io

or.timatod that coate, for haiduarn ni.il he in tho ranga

#î'»n.nO to #1X0. HO. prr ku of installed opacity plus u further

50 to ir.u;.'- dapond.'nn on site configuration and transmission liir.Uncn

1 - 19 -

i,o very ap roxiaatoly, total coûts for plant and oito work ehould

bo in tho range of ¿50P.0G to ¿2,0^0.PC! p:T ku of inatollod cap city

ctop«ndino on local «istoriai ond labour costs, sito conditions;»

•lie Of plant otc. Thcco figures uould be far lc~n in the idoal

case whoro labour and Jucal materials en be oVtalaod fr—- of coot)

and whoro notional voluntary organisations próvido ttís technical

input. Cn tho basis of a 50JÍ overage load fnctoir, 10,:. internat

charga« and a 20 yoor atnortioation period, this representa a generation

eoct in ti-» ranga 1.5 tints to 2.5 conto por kwhr, which ia cheap

tlactricity by any atar.daftü*

I

il

».

- ?n •

TcniiHO-rc: wi-iìic i. t-'tî-.-.uisi «s rtjiì THC USI: e* MU.. ^¡J rucr.c-rji "••LL r-L,.::i".

In tho circulât.ina." pnr.f Uir; in Sierra Lninr», Uie r.xtcns.Uin

of bulk supplii-'t. from r.onlr.i.1 r.:<.n.T-.-í-.'.ne stations to remoí.e rural

eottlurmntn i:; rendered extremely difficult .-Iü «xpensiv«.

Existing gonerating f.xiíiti -v. LM 1 ! fi-.uc to be reinforced und tho

cost of tiN'iir.rvo rscínn ccjuipnr-nt Mí il be ;v< ::níUv:;ly ^i Lcjin only to

supply very ana 11 .mei highly or ,:,1.M r.d .ir,./!-;. Tur Irrgcr tounr.,

electrification bes heon ber¡ed un i^c-3: 'tod (i.:(.-,nl driven .-,-neratoro.

Tho operation of ••neh di e..cl -„tat i ene r>f ur.r/xnr, ;;.izeo, which r.ro

spread over the Juneth and breath o? th;, country ir, necessarily ut ry

COttljr and uouilly un¡»rofi table. The cc^t uf ..c'rurn.:-tcrinrj both

cupervicion and cup;-lies in p;,ar:,ely -ce-ule tru! orees it wry hinh.

Oosidoc, tho rvijtirity of theoo plant?, arc COM in »r.-ry bod npuratinn.

condition» and soon, hi oh ineintennncu and cpor.it) mj coita, together

with a shortage »f adonuetoly skillod p" «enne I to maintain and rnp'..ir

them will render th -GO plant:., very ¡»nreíüirble and economically nüt

viablo. Consequently, timor.' i ro'lur.. h,ru .lr>o c.rm ributed to the

low It?vol of nlnctriri.cr.tion and to the Km Ut ions of nx' ending

supplies to rural areas that arc not prooeni ly olnctrified, throunh

tho uso of ioolatud dim-ul plan!..',. To cut den on operating conta,

supply in com i c <aoa arc on tuelve-hour bar.io. (Ving to thc high

coats of generation in the,o -tatiün;., it would be n.:ccr.«nry if tho

syotnms aro to remain in operation, cither to chaAf« ouch hi eh rntcr.

us would tond to ror.trict thn ti:-.o of electricity or for Government

to subaiiiiro heavily en euch irnr-.r-uf1 tabic cup, lioc.

Roth thc. oo ,'ppro pi:hr:; am not 1 i i : 1 y to Im prac. ieablo.

Micfo-hydi'i» clnntric pei.cr dnv..lop .ent; ubero thin io puooiblu; provide

ft

1

*

- 21 -

a ponciblti solution '.'•~t r.-n nwrrr.-onv; both the p.. nt'.ltima of high

operating costs and tli.it can encours o wide-spread uso of clrctricity

in rural tim>ironmt;nte. Tt-' jmtitj the installation of micro-hydro

plants for rural electrification, it would bo nncescary to show

some ctívantagcñ over tho tibiquitc-uc mero— diosal alternative«

Considering tho r-npidly > sc.'l..,tinç fual cents'anc! the

inaccessibility of mst of Ihr; rural .seltlnnfinto, ouch comparisons

will favour the .licro-hycJro alternativo in tho long torm. Dosides,

micro-hydro power will concern dcvolopronnl of tho country's own

resources« Provided there it, adequate u.-itor hr\.d ond flow in ths

dry season, and whore it c.n be assumed th.-t past petccrns of stream

flow can ba oxp ctud to ro-occur, there is virtually no question

about the technical or engineering feasibility for a micro—hydro

projact at any site sincn it will consist of only uory snail structurée,

Evan whore thore aro insufficient hydro-rroteorologicnl data, PUG

schemes can be planned and developed with proper restraint and

Judgement« Apart from tho f ct that the energy is freo and

lnexhauoible, micro-hydro plants c »n be built quickly sinco tho civil

work i ara simple, and their working life ia much longor than for

dlosol pJnnts. Tho cost of reservoirs, dams and water wayo is

generally tha highest cnmncicnt of total micro-hydro inct. liotion coot»

But whore auch an effort ia baaed on "rülf- h«lp*j dams, prnntoko»

and othor civil works if needed, could be constructed with local

labour and materials without r.innificant capital coste. A» example

of such "self-help" projects is ; h own by ox; orlnnca g; incd in the

establishment of water pu ps in tho rural areas of Siorra Locno.

S omo 175 Deapeter cJ>cp uall put.ipc have boon inatallcd in villagos

throughout the ccuntry during the List few years and in all cases,

villagers havo ,-rovidrd the labour and cot.t of installation on "calf-

h"lp'* bniri;.. A.'; .-.'..•< M ; r» '•''•• f; !;nr-i1 f >; • wr: ICîî, -•!*• [Un-, MJCI» nn in-

nti/at.' rn J;, ; "*í.tj wory likely to ,,M . r;!< |?jor«nwwnt fund." no. to inoot.

CdMi' cnrt'- •',!(, I'm« ;ii !i.;Ui rtory, » : f_i .1 - v » .^ !:...n<.;y • •rviceif -'•'.. CI'"»! vîy,

a nrootr-r ; ol.nntiol oxi'.U. for hn..>l M, m !,:cturc of n<¡; ni. ni than

Tor (.¡.h.ooi pJrot. Tiii:. i.il.L .f,:,u]t 11 UofMonuouc coat 1 orlucti onr. in

tho ;;ii,¡ly ¿'nil iiv.tüll..t'• ^n ol' ilvj pouor pi, nt f!t;ni¡ i;v:nt. an uconony

«i.!f»!U.i-o tor uici n-hy.'lro : i» r:b 1;, ¿Ire •&/ nxojiiinn, ,;t ¡.untino in

many pevtc, of tho world ir tin.; u. tj of um «TUM!• :CI stati tu;,. This >.ould

be n w ry r-..ionil'ioont i!i;vclo;¡" • ut ("or tti;j ruroj rr-:. in 'aorro Li.rno;

cinco m;>ii|i!r.j:.T Uini ¡:,.-jt:;f.nu in lho';o c.r(.:r:i;, ruuld rn:.:.iri r.t th-

widi't.pn;od iv.tol.'' Jr.'rinuint of mir.ro-hyoro inst:/, leti 0110 thidi ir i: le)

nUicrw-rc i echini curi:,t. ut eurvoillanc*. Tho x-n.-U of ti:, Uncían br-ioc»

IntiiiT.if.'dii.tn Tochnuloijy riovoloo!..! nt Group (i IUI.) ir. of r. cci.^l

6i ori. f ic ¡.inno brro. Th.; Ï". Do h ;: i dent i fi «4 í:OITIC rJJr.t Ln..;.t nrno of

duvolnpi;! jnt i rk on turbines, ttiit by " ntroducinn, neu erncoptr, nnd

construction tnehniquer; of Tor orootly inprovod economi ra for SP'I.11

turbin;; conr.truuti.oii 1 !.,• n hijwp hlthnrto »HOP ^ov.ciu.îo uninrj

tradition .1 tíeRJijnr,, Thor'.' turban"., require ti it tinu of only ¡jinplii

loui-coi.t fixed no¿;-lus which uht.-n nomhinud with electronic control

r.ystor.ir would ovoid the nc;t?d for ifxponr-ivo spoor uclv/ri-, co¡:iplicotod

í3ml i;xr-on::.iuo hydr.ailiu nvornoro; and nlsc incrouncs tho uomini .UtJ.os

of lncnl rn,inii[,>ctiii-c. Th: :;».: iiiriciv.it.Lonj, while resultino in low

«utariül nnd corr tr i;r t i on ceto, olso rcoult in low rnointcnar-ci* nnd

nporotionol simplicity 1 ociuin. r;. nt <.iini.nu.l tc'ihnicil knowhou» no c:m

be i'.')r,ilv cJcui'l npoci ir.ionn t tin: rur.-l population, '¿hü natnbliibwL-nl:

Of tho r;i rra Leone: NiUon.-.l '..'o,'!::,hap »'imkl turthor m.;¡:is n:;ir>r,

lor.,;! rminuf (/.burino offerti;. Unr f.r.tor uhich ron oí Toot tho

ariv--ti*i..r:i;:; of tho uso at rV.r, plinti, 1s i tu tíi';t.ncij firn tho lu.-.d

CWlt«r, Hero r.ryiUf thir: ic not ljko.iy to i.i.ikc nn op;v -'•ni bl(3

1 - 23 -

impact on economico since in rannerai, most rural settlements in

Sierra Leone aro nifcunted noar streams and there is no noed for

long transmission lines. An important impediment to tha widespread

UM of micro-hydro installations is the possibility of suitable

streams drying up complotely during dry seasons. The successful

Exploitation of tho potentials of euch strooms would" require high

civil engineering co-fcs in constructing reliable dame . nd reservoirs

•rid if possible, the Dxploitntion of ground-water sources.

The uce of 6mall-water turbines and generators for providing

power in the rural settlements of Sierre Leone is gradually gaining

acceptance. Recognising the potential value of small-scele

hydropower for rural development, tho Faculty uf engineering of tht

Univerisy of Sierra Leons has inotitutod a Research end Development

programme with a view of developing adequate copcbilities in this

field to allou the faculty to initiate in collaboration with

related institutionc, full twmffceturiaf and «dvisory services for

the installation of NHG plants with capocitiss appropria to to our

rural requirements«

- ;*4 ~

l'I«. ll.Jïi'- : .; ¡7 ,•:.'. !.: :!'

1 Tito ur-.ci o! vnli''i!Mí)ii:, 1 or al < roup:.; for ,v¡-ivi¡mry «ind con:,"lt !IK;»

ser vico:, 1.n t-.«cl.nical ; •roLt'.n-nrj j.n ;¡ rli-va-lnpina cuuntry !» i: a nur.iht.T

of odvnnt.ino.".. ¡\ local 'roup j-, ntnro likaly í;o lr> a'ir.rn uí aad

r.yr.ipaf ctie to mljnnal d, •<.<!••] np..i::nt prlnritirr> ,--.|(fj (hoy a.n b-t; ur

able to crt.imní-.f! the fYpvopr i ,,tr; tochmtv:-.! scinti on i/ivon thu r. unUy':

r.tiiQo of dcvolopi.wnt. Also, o local nr up in bott-.r placad to ur,u

locnl input;:, oT rooMjrco;. and uqui pi.icjfít to meut the: c r.ncly,

fJut tlmr» u.¡n bu f'iund vt;ry fciu insti lulxunv rnvincj 'mhv..\ualu pnl.unlinl

cnpr,b.íl.itj.aa tu off».T L,UCI» cervie -r. in a developing country uivon

tho dj.v«r»;a rnturc nf prr-Mu.i:, >nvr,lvr.d. In 1 ierra Loonr, perh. pu

tho Tnci'lty of Cuoi nt ori .nrj oe thn University is tho only institution

with thia cnpabiJity that can, and that h »a :,o far t..!:on tho

initiative to innt.it'.ito a ruroarch and cJo\.'¡;.1.npr,iont group with

ORpiratinns wholly directed tiuj;.rt.'£ advising on, ,-mri devising

solutions to tho country'u nany luc'-.nolorical problems» With thia

owarcnur.o of tho potenti.d of tiiir. faculty in natiònol rievplofirnont,

it hos for a long fime or,t.<hlicrv.d a research body »'.CTMMD (/kivi nry

Gorvicca for Technology, Raranrch anc.; Development), to which «nil

mornbors oT the tcachinrj staff belong. In addition, A3TRAD has an

net ivo llMon and has in thn p^st co-o; oratoci in off orine; advice

and other cervices uith other i rofesrional bodies outr.ido the

University t.iir» unh the rier/a Lone National Association of Sciuncu

and Technology to cono national tcchnoloijicnl problème.

One nrc<\in which the group hr, shown a lot of concern is tho

dovalo.ammt of tho cuur.try's re r our oc r. to ru: t tho eroding energy

noods u;.¡ ccinlly a» emst the rur..l population t/nicit comprises threu-

quartern of tho cntiro population, but Sierra Leone does not po: r.usa

within iti» border.-, any kna-jn sub:.!, nt i;;l eneroy royt.urco other than

w.itorpcwer and of course liiwci colar energy.

1 - 25 -

Thoco considerations prompted the Faculty of Cnginooring to

investitjote the possibilities if dcvoloping a ocióme that would

dopend on tha country's vast vrter potential as energy input.

This alternative »JUS choson on tho bonis of its performance in

other countrieo and because it has tho greatest potnntial in terms

of coot-effIctívnnoss, oveilability of resources and- the long-term

requirements of pouer in rural areas. Many sites on bo identified

whore am; 11 hydroiiloetric units ccn be installed to top this Rnorgy

source for uso by rural inhabitants.

A recent survey by Hotor-Coiumbuc consulting Cflçincers reveal»

that there ic an abundance of cites hewing high watorpouer potentials

especially for tho development of micro-hydro poucr that would bo

suitable for ¡.iroducing both oloctrical energy and diroct mechanical

rotary pouer. The Faculty micro-hyclropower development group aims

st designing a ricro-hydro ecchma most a;:t for the development of

these oitcs especially for rural applications and at costs uithin the

cspacity of rurcl communities to acquire through aided celf-holp

efforts. As a recult, a protraiamo has bean initiated uith tho aim

of designing and developing a micro-hyrJro scheme using locally

available resources. Present deeirns of micro-hydro generation

acharnes uould be very expansiv« for ap,licotions in villages.

It uould therefore bo necessary both to mudify presont designo where

necsssary and to design entire units which uould lond tho scheme

amenable to homo manufacture of vit^l compoocnts; uith a view of

achieving op, reclafolc installation and material cost reductions«

Uhoreeer possible, local resources both in termr. of materials and

facilities uill be exploited to the full and uhcro applicable,

villagers arc to be involved to tho maximum in the impJimontation of

- ?.u -

tha project, ihey >iM -1'^ :"• tr -5n<"l to run ;.;nd M.-tinfc .Ln the

ííCtH'inoP l.hnrnr-.rlver. TM.: in our v.-iew i? Un H"-"^. IT:.- 1 i stic approach

tu thi* prohli i:.

An nn off:.M<Jot to 1:1 tir- devi lopin ent, iL ir.. ..lr.u intendici to

develop cnrf-iK.!.: np; ].M,.'tioti for t.h«- n-ruHin^ electrical i u,?rtjy.

Atl.nniptr. uil.1 lr. i..r«k: fco urr.raiic traditional er.- its prar.ti'-.ed at

willnne Level, uh: eh aro I.MJO; .••com inic acfcivi tier; o.n.. carpentry,

blacksm.ithin ;, f not! pr e; -orctlion, Heaving etc. so thrst electricity

will ho ucod .rc ntVactiUitu enorny input. The oely criteri for ilio

ocltction of vj 11 orca for project implementation will bn:

1. The uiM..i-:nr» en- rrjy noodc and the pror.pect for riprovino.

theto nordn.

2. Availability of energy rerources i.e. otrtaw l,*tn rjrjariur.'-e

heed and having ptrenai&l How chai-acU-rit.ti.rc.

3. Village enthuaiçcm ónci interact in i articipcting. The ebility

find rendinnac of vill.-gurs to partici;:ato in tho implementation,

maintenance arid smooth runninç} of the cyctum it; a vital

eoniiiriorvîion.

4. Social urility of the project - A com,-loto ncr.or.snrmt of

oocial factors involved in ti;.-; villages t:.:.padity to rooko

çjotid uso of tho !-.y.",tcri ic important.

5. The economic viability of tho project in tcrmr, of tho ability

of tho villano community to p:>,y b.»ck for the amenity if fund

procurement une origin-illy through a loan. Such loans can

bo obtained through tho rational Dovelcpuent Hank for rural

.iovolopr.ent. It in he,'ever unv¡an<:rd that ruct rural

oottli-rr. ntt; would moot tutorial and labour co. ts through

F.olf-hclp en. i i:n:,l of forte. It it; iridi.«:.-iteci in the National

Doviti optant plan that r,fi\/ernrr.ent ran nnko suiaitanlial

r

- 27 -

contributions urvtar ouch circunct.-.nccn. Uhcro this is poceible,

torriffs uill be roiaoû to nio<-t costs for consultancy cervices and

tunning costs which uould bo ninia-.l -Ance water rotcc mould not bo

levied, Alno, for auch ¿ci:ct.,arj cevclopud through communal solf-hclp

efforts, almost everybody uould I JO a potential uoor.

For'tho purpose of tho •loetrifloarti«« of the xural areas of

Siorra 1**SM _ moot requiremontc uould fall within the range of

20 - 5OO lev« Thcr.o evaluations of tho domc3tic naed for oloctricol

•ncrgy arc baaed on a recent Market survey of selected rural

••ttlemnnto presently without electricity supply and for large*

town« whore thare arc existing supplies. As 0 basis for tho

•valuation, the data used uere based on rural population, income

per head, number of ; individuals par household, number of potontiel

consterò of electrical energy ate. Thosu riata sorved only as

guidelines, and by moans of a markot our voy, the vnriouo towns and

villages uere considered individually. It uould however be more

appropriato both in cost teritts and for tho purpuoa of developing

•«pertico in micio-hydro equipment manufactura and installation}

for tho first prototype and pilot installation to be of a cnrcllar

•cale, *ay 10 - ;">0 ku. In fact, there can bo found many isolated

loads havino demands in this rengo, whore the alternativo uould

otnsrwie« bo diosel plant*

1

• «

- 2Ü -

ùlL'Ujlk¿Usi.L•A'.-V.--^,, r"') ' :l.:' <'\.:• "r: . ' e:Y

The responsibility foi rural irdi!slriali;:..ition i:: noniuonJy

shamd by ocvsrv.l des .rU.snto and i„Ji¡i:.1 rii:r: oT üuvt.Tn;.. ;iit. Hut;

opart frow t.ho Ministry of {-[norgy and Poi-er, t-»io Faculty of tur; i. na er inn

Of ti« University ir. tin. only nt. j. r local, institution that I»,", «¡o

for taken as-tive interrr•'. in the devisi npinont of senni.l-îiydr ne? 1 edrte

plante for williígr: uso and in the eenaral prcbloMü of rural

nloctrifixation. Tim faculty or Cnginon ing, by virtue of it:. inter-

disciplinary noturt!, ir. will placed to serve Liu.- ras, onsibility of

major initiatives and the cü-rjrdinati nn of efforts so that project

planning and impli-eritation can bo intngrotcd .oth deu-inpnrjnt polici. s.

Aleo, substantial skillr already exist in the various Ministries and

thoir oxpcricncati could tn: valuable in thu realization of the project.

Thus in an uff ort to onsuro the success of this project, the

•up, ort, co-operation and involvement nf ro.lov.-.nt Co;»!' mannt nini stries

und rolutnd institution« has buen sought and established. These

includo tho Sierra Leone Electricity Corporation, Land .'ioseurc.. r.

Survey, Govcnnitiont National Workshop, tho National Dees'lopr.nnt eank,

and tho ministries of Agriculture and forestry, Energy end l;ener,

Intorior, Development .and Economic planning, Social '. elfnru and iiural

Development, Uorkc rind thu Ministry nf national ilcaouroes. Initial

contacts hr.vo buen vary successful and detailed proposals aro under

preparation tn give a fuller ins ion t into tho aspirations of the

Faculty in research and dovclopment work on micro-hydro generation

echemos. I3y set doing, the Faculty hopes to arise the alarono c of

government through its Ministries and para-statala; of tho potentialities

in tho uso nf uicru-hyaro plants for rural electrification and tho

poor, j nil itine for thu establishment of a local Punuf.during industry

2" -

»>

for fchc3e plants. Such involvomcnt by Government institutions mill

make tho -ahk or surveys, oventu«--. financing and ctuntry-uide

applications easier und it will also facilitato easier onlistir.ont of

vi 11 ago support and co-operation.

Tho methodology nnd implementation strategy has also been defined

and formulated. Essentially, the faculty uill bo involved in tho

dooign of a cheap and reliable micro-hycro generation schomo which

will lend itself botter to local Manufacture» ;»nd maintenance in our

rural areas. In so doing, tho traditional approach of scaling down

largo cystoma uill be dispensad nith nnd sowe modifications of existing

plants and concepts togchter with other concepts appropri" te to our

local requirements uill bo adopted. This will roquire knoulodge of

a wide rango of present dealgB* and tho soloctinn of designs uhoao

features are closest to fulfilling tno requirements of tho scheme

envisaged. Accordingly, soma collaboration with tho London based

Intermediate Tochnology Development Group (¡TOG) has been established

and through this collaboration, « member uf tho research team

received throo wecko first hand training in micro-hydro pauar

technology on existing sites in tho Jest of Englsod uhcra tbo ITOG

haa boon involved in tho installation of t,omo plants. The 1TDG

hae also shoun willingness to share uith the faculty fccaeorch

group» its long standing experience in micro-hydronowor Technology,

A scheme has been developed by tho ITOG uhich is of ,articular interest

to tho development of research and implementation capabilities of

the faculty since the scheme has many feoturos ap ropriete to rural

applications in Sierra Leone. In particular, the use of simple

turbines and electronic govornnrs and controller in tho ITOG

plants greately simplifies the design and of f.-rs ap reciablo coct-

roductions while at tho samo timo improving tho chances of local

manufacture. It h s been proposed to install a pilot demonstration

Ï!J -

1 •••¡ri à l. .orf fr rim i.hi eh ¡.M'.:*.:-, >;nii plant oí' Uii:.; "/:•'* :•' ¡".'^ ît!

i-iodi r.Lf:.-.l i «m.-, -ili ho : >^

to nii'Jîwtidn:; in our rur^l m-...- . At Mu.- .«*." ti.«.-, Ibi- mil

,,iv.: an n, ;:•• rLw„: ty fur t.l..: r;^.udh !,,,,, to hui.1«i .c,1 inp.ouc,

further, il:: r.v.-.-.ixh • r,d d^i.'pn-a rr.p.-;.! ^ i ti 0 in «.ieu u-hydvn

t.Urhnnli..;y to r, !;t.,nfi ihr m furtivi fui..'.,MiT,i.-l rJ^ulof. ntr. uno

countrywide s^lu can ta!:r off. M't,:r a i-tn-iod of cxp.rlnu.ntotion

„n .-i l.ilüt pV.nt -li: vi m rhi.ch my !.lit.tt-r u¡..in. . t;..n ha identified

arid r.r.rri:t:ti-J, a roun^y-vulu n'irwry uill U: cmb-u'la'd upnn.

In ar.lri.Uicn tu ^vo li »hin:; -.nei tiv.wìup:^ •'• AOSì.J u.-..mir.->cturinç

ccpobility, it uouhi also bo n. r.rs.-.öry to .nyku .vi invnntory of

potuntivl „irro-hydro sitne, thuir ¡.enthly nnd ,i.n,:mal ch;u ctviictics

no regards vnri.Unnn in flou- ^r, quantity of water -lc, and a

•arkRt r.urvny t.f p tr.ntial ur.nrs nn;ir potenti,1 :uti.:,. 7hic uiU

roquiro n J: nrjthy «urvny end n detailed instigation for at lü.-.nt

twelve ninths of ,,01-.,ibl« «iL«.. InJ-i,lly, it .muid c-ly Lo n,r,:>e:.;u-y

to identify and mr.hc «letniled ntudior. of a feu ci too within neny

roach of the faulty ;-nd nt legation:. i,v,:,t ruitnhlr to rjorvc ec

ohow-pi.-co-, cinco Ilo li-viOnpw.nt of thüí.o situe uill only v.crw an

a cprinrjbo.-.rd from rhoro ».oro uidcr.prtviri np.-]ic::ticn in th.: rest of

tho country will bu undnrtekon. It it; aim comtcr.pl, tod the.t soU-ctod

Bitua üi'l rnvi.r ull tho options of hinh, ii.odJ.ura and lou »v. ad

installation:,} so î.H to inerbo th.: applicability of micro-hydro

planto thrnuQhuut tho country. In contoinpl-.tinq o uidocprood

oppi'.cation of nicrn-hydro on a n.-itioruiitíc beoic, r'uo regard is

ijivon tho futuro w-ît.jr resource re-, •i.iirr-M.jn'..:. of nci-jhlMurirK, aruns

and tho nrcvr.,ity for B cn-rrdinefed rer.innal plannen fnr dovnl r-idng

oitns that li.- within the r.t.m: e tenant arca or that uould du,T.nd

r i - 31 -

on the samo streams for developing power supply focilitiua.

The rehabilitation and re-i.quiping of the- Government National

Workshop has oponed a neu avenue in addition to the Faculty workshop,

for the manufacture and replication of micro-hydro plant compononto.

tfhon completed, tho workshop uill havo most faciliti« appropriato

to a larfco workhsop. Th-j sltillod manpower that is available in this

workshop in also an added boost to the existing potential of the

Faculty. Uhilst rdoquato potentialities exist within the Faculty

of Engineering and else whore in the country for tho. implementation

of this project financial constraints have caused setbacks,

Whon thoss áifficultioo aro ovorcoma, it is envisaged that it will

teiM throe years to implimont tho first phooo of the projoct i.e.

initial surveys, pilot-plant installation and testing component

manufacture and prototypo fabrication. Thora-after, mora plants will

bo lnotallod el.euhoro on the basis of the roquiremonta sot out

•arlier. It is clear that with the appropriate support both fro*

within and outride the country, vory worthwhile "nvolopmont is

possibla in our neglectod rural areas through tho efforts of tno

Faculty of Engineering.

J'£

ccirjcuiL/inN

Tho use of r.mn'i.1 hydro generating unitr. will provide; tiirj most moa-

ninrjful source of rnorrjy for the rural armis of Sierra Incnu. Tf the

tremendous potential for Un une of i u.cro-hyr!ro i'lri.ti'. nn lh" boni:¿ Tor

rural nluctrirical .jon in Gierm lar.nc is to be exploited fully and if

tho bonofit of such plant« is to roach tho majority o? tho rural popula-

tion.installation cpstr, hnvo to bo kept at tho minimum»Thi« papor has

Est out to outline Days by which this can bo achinvod in Sierra Loono«

In oo doing, horn» manufacture of plant componente is emphasized. The

echemos should depend on local resources ao far or:, possible, ^tattoria

muot bo built with funda accumulated locally through aided self-help

efforts, agricultural production or light industry activities. Contrai

fundo should ba provided only for nacossary tochnical aosistnnca in de*

eign, manufacturing of power generating equipmunt or tralsiBff of futura

local operatore« Also, local rosoarch organisations liko tho Faculty of

Engineering of tho University should ho rncnurngrri tr impnu/o thoir c.ipc-

bilitios oo ao to provide these services and honco unsure celf dependence

and a long-torm and -«idee »reed involvornont in tho establishment of micro-

hydro units.

It is emphacizod that, as m-jch as possible, JOCPI inhabi tanta who do-

eiro thio amenity should bo involved in tho construction, installation

ond running oT tho scherno. Construct on materials uill bo strictly local

end labour must bo provided by tho local inhabitants. The building of dams

ie avoided in as far oc rossi bio but whom thio is necessary, thoy will

ba cithar rcck-fiUod nr earth-fiilcd structures requiring only mini-

mum coment, ste^l and timber.

Oospitu tho fact th;it uso of mierö-hydro çoneroting sots nil) focili-

tato low-cost clccticity su; flies t the villar;0» °r Sierra Leona, houso

hold consumption of electricity in rural areas mill remain small. Tt» im-

prove) thtj (iumanri, jn equo'1y important \ .»gru n of rlovrli no find uso

application! of thn r^ul!. in.;, electricity is to tr rjr/.jorlccd upon by tho

1

1 33

University research team. Such applicatipn^will includa tho uso of

electricity im small rural induetries, blacWsaithing, grain thrashing and

•illing, food prnsorvation, oil extraction, timber sawing, irrigation and

Matar cuppliee ote. The uso or power for those actiwitios will bo tho firat

atap towards mordornising our rural sottlaswntc and providing a climate

conducive to a rapid economic dovelopnant where it will metter aast.

».

— 34 ¿»

i-.errrtnjixr,

U K.MVWI, o.i.r.

2.

3.

4.

S.

LAWiïlîXE, F.D.

A

hOTOîî - CÍHUI.ÜU5 •

Cl)H:4JLTItJG Cf!-

ClNCr.RS. l»»t.

IMTLÑCBüI/.TC TECH-

NOLfiCVl üEWCLUPMCMT

CAOUP (I.T.D.G.).

lur.DUN.

«WlSTRfiMC EV«KS.R.3.

CVABS EMGiriCtni!."; ¡¿»VICES.

LAUHCETUN, U.K.

Mt.rO"hyi!ro;>r nr clovolcpmcnt; n tolutinn

to Siurrn loorm'c rural < :l«jct.r.i.fic;i¡¿ioru

Con. on A¡-f re, ri.^.c Trcnnolo« y, Freatwn,

Sierra Leoni;, Duly, 1570.

Tho tranr.r r of cc.il]. - üCUIO hydroelectric

technology. Proc. cunf emne:: on small « scalo trwroy for

dovolopinçj countrlBC. RcnrJinrj, U.K. 3nru;iry»

1979.

Tho stronthening of the iiorra Leone i:leetri*

city Corporation« Novumbor, 1971«

Advisory and consultancy ccpabllitins in the

fluid of email - ccale h/dro-eloctric pc**r

feneration.

SMALL SCALE 'JATtR ¡•iA.f.H SCKCHE5.

We regret that some of the pages in the microfiche

copy of this report may not be up to the proper

legibility standards,even though the best possible

copy was used for preparing the master fiche

• •