The HydroTimor weBlog

After the large soil sinking in Gariuai, which damaged the penstock of the mini hydroelectric power plant, we have called upon two specialist teams to make survey, and propose solutions for a fast and safe repair of the penstock.

The first team came in March, and the second in May 2009, short time after the accident.

Reports are expected within mid June. Thereafter we will prepare to start the repair work. The delivery time for parts etc for the penstock is some months, but other preparations can be made in the meantime.

Gariuai is such a good mini hydropower plant, assisting the supply of electricity to a large area. We will do all our best to have it up running as soon as possible.

Luckily, only the penstock was affected by the soil sinking. The power house and operator’s building, the store, both dams and the transmission line are ok!

The production of electricity in the Gariuai Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant has been stopped due to land movement along some parts of the area the penstock passes through.

About a month ago, the penstock in Gariuai started to move, and a part of it was lifted above the ground. This is an unusual happening, and caused a small leakage in the penstock, which immediately was emptied. Shortly thereafter, a large area of 150–200 decare suddenly sunk 2–3 metres, and the penstock was in some places pulled apart. The land that sunk has got big cracks, and some of these cracks are slowly expanding. We are now measuring the expansion of some of the cracks, with both horizontal and vertical movements.

Geotechnical experts are presently working at the site trying to find the reason for the natural disaster, as well as identifying possible actions to avoid further damaging developments, and finding a way for the penstock to cross the exposed area.

Gariuai Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant will remained closed down until the penstock has been repaired.

The access road to the disaster area has been cut off by the land movements. A project team is presently assessing the damages and will recommend further action.

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (Bouvet Foundation)

Motion, a Bar, Restaurant & Lounge in Dili which shows film (with free popcorn!) every Wednesday night, screened the Gariuai film the 11 March 2009.

The film was introduced by Programme Manager Kassius Klei together with Special Adviser Alf Adeler, and they also answered questions from the audience afterwards. The film’s creator, Basil Rolandsen of the Bouvet Foundation also participated (and obviously enjoying the popcorn…).

“Gariuai Mini Hydroelectric Power Project” was produced for HydroTimor on behalf of the Ministry for Infrastructure, and “presents the entire process of construction of the important renewable energy source for Timor-Leste from commencement to inauguration”, to quote the flyer, where Motion urged potential audience “Don’t miss this new public interest film!”

Interested in this film can download it from the HydroTimor website, where also a brochure and other information may be found.

Photos: Basil Rolandsen (Bouvet Foundation)

The 10 November 2008 was a big event for both Timor-Leste and Norway. The first hydropower station in Timor-Leste was opened after a construction period of 3 years! The power plant is a gift from Norway to Timor-Leste, and is constructed as a pilot and training project by local people from Gariuai Sucu, with monitoring support from Norway. The opening was celebrated with a big party at the power house area, with traditional dancing, handing over of tais and a lot of speeches.

More than 200 people participated both from Timor-Leste and from abroad. Among the Timorese participants were the leader of the Parliament, Mr FernandoLasama; the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Zacarias Albano da Costa; the Minister for Infrastructure, Mr Pedro Lay; the Secretary of State for Electricity, Water and Urbanization, Mr Januario Pereira; the leader for the Baucau administration, Mr Antonio; and the Gariuai Sucu Leader Maria de Jesus Belo. From Norway participated the Norwegian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Mr Eivind Homme; the Chargee d’Affairs Ms Eva Irene Tuft; Embassy First Secretary Mr Tor Morten Sneve; the Director General of Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Mr Agnar Aas; the former Bishop of Norway, Mr Gunnar Staalseth; and representatives from the Consultant among others. Also World Bank, ADB, the supplier of the power house equipment Wasser Kraft Volk from Germany, many Embassies with their Ambassadors or other high level people, and many NGOs participated. Basil Rolandsen from the Bouvet Foundation was as usual busy filming the event.

The Sucu leader, Ms Maria Belo made the opening speech, and expressed gratitude for the hydropower project being implemented in her area, and for the benefit of already giving work for more than 1500 different persons, both women and men, over more than three years. This project introduces the cheap, clean and renewable energy source of hydropower to Timor-Leste!

Other speeches were made by the leader of the Parliament, the Minister for Infrastructure, The Director General of NVE and the consultants. Mr Kassius Klei, the Programme Manager and Mr Alf V Adeler, the Senior Adviser introduced details about the project for the audience.

A formal startup of the power plant was made by the leader of the Parliament, the Minister for Infrastructure and the Norwegian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, under guidance from Programme Manager Kassius Klei.

After startup, a good lunch was served. A local band played and local dancers performed. The party continued for a long time, and participants from all the 8 aldeias in Gariuai participated.

The Power Plant startup was a success, and electricity was connected to the local grid through the new 4 km transmission line, also constructed by the project. Together with the Baucau diesel power plant, electricity could then be supplied to all Baucau district 24 hours every day, with no load shedding and with a better quality.

For more details about the Gariuai Mini Hydroelectric Power Project, please see the website, where in addition to general and technical information, downloadable copies of the brochure (in .pdf format) as well as the video (introductory and full versions) may be found.

Photos: Basil Rolandsen (Bouvet Foundation)

The power house in Gariuai has been cabled! All instruments as well as the 20 kV transmission lines have been connected, and the commissioning of the station has been performed by technicians Dietmar Fischer and Bernhard Wernet from the equipment supplier, Wasserkraft Volk in Germany.

The completion of the cabling means that the testing of the penstock (pipes from intake to station), power station and power lines connecting the station to the grid may start. This testing, which involves operation of the station, will go on until November, when the station is expected to be handed over to the EDTL and in normal operations.

National Director for Water and Sanitation Gregorio de Araujo (right) visited the station while trainees from EDTL together with HydroTimor staff (here Joaquim Ximenes) connected instruments.
Photo: Basil Rolandsen (www.bouvet.info)

The 1770 m signal cable going from the Builai intake to the power house is now installed. The cable needed to be stretched through pipes buried in the ground, as the cable passes through cultivated land, and also in order to protect the environment. This challenge involved several teams coordinating their pulling, and was completed over two (long) days.

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (www.bouvet.info)

The 4 km 20 kV transmission line from the Gariuai power station to the main grid has been upgraded to comply with new requests. It should now be ready for hand-over to EDTL, the national electricity company.

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (www.bouvet.info)

Our brochure for the Gariuai Mini Hydroelectric Power Project has been updated and is being distributed. You may find an electronic version (.pdf format) ready for download on our website.

The brochure (like previous brochures, video, this blog and our website) was produced by Basil Rolandsen from our partner the Bouvet Foundation.

HydroTimor is the coordinating unit for hydroelectric development in Timor-Leste (East Timor). It is situated in the Ministry for Infrastructure, and is supported by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) through an institutional cooperation.

The upper part of the penstock towards the Builai spring and dam will pass a steep area, exposed for erosion and land slide.

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (www.bouvet.info)

To avoid disturbance of the soil, a tunnel is under construction through the exposed area, around 20 meter long and at certain areas around 6 meter below the surface! For security reasons for the workers, and as foundation for the penstock, a steel culvert is all the time pressed into the tunnel as the work is progressing. This is pioneer work in Timor-Leste.

A new milestone has been reached. The penstock up to Wainalale spring and dam has crossed the main river by a newly constructed bridge.

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (www.bouvet.info)

The bridge is constructed to manage any possible floods in the river without being damaged. This work has taken several weeks, and represents the last big hindrance to reach the spring and dam. Congratulation to the Construction Managers Vasco Pinto and Arlindo Sarmento!

Two large containers full of equipment for the Gariuai power house just arrived in Dili.

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (www.bouvet.info)

Seven large crates containing turbine, generator, transformer, a crane, valves and pipes, as well as other equipment, have now arrived our warehouse in Dili. The pic shows Alf Adeler supervising the unloading of the containers, which required heavy duty equipment due to the bulk and weight of the crates. They will be stored until they can be transported to the site in Gariuai and installed, a process to be aided by specialists from Germany.
If all goes according to plans now, the power plant should be delivering electricity by end of May!

The wet season makes the work more challenging, but we see progress anyway in Gariuai. The latest development is the roofing and painting of the power house, which will contain the turbine and other equipment.

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (www.bouvet.info)

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (www.bouvet.info)

Another development, found on the opposite side of the building, is the construction of the outlet leading the water from the turbine into the river.