On July 23rd, 2021, the grid connection ceremony for the first two units of Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower station was held in Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower station,the first Sino-Zambian cooperation project, which is under the general contract of Power China Construction Corporation with the computerized supervisory control system provided by NARI Group Corporation. Zambian President Edgar Lungu attended the ceremonyand inaugurated the operation of the plant. Li Jie,Chinese Ambassador to Zambia,and other representatives attended the ceremonyas well. Xinhua News Agency, CCTV and other mainstream media fromthe two countries delivered live reportson the spot.

President Lungu stressed in his speech that Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower station’s success in power generation wasan important moment and marked a turning point for Zambia to become a net electricity exporter in southern African community regions, which will offer reliable, affordable electricity to Zambia, inject impetus to the nation’s industrialization, and play an important role in economic resurgence after the pandemic. Power generation and grid connection fulfills the Zambian Government's commitment to the people and will meet our demands for electricitytoday and in the future, benefiting all the Zambian people.

Ambassador Li Jie pointed out in his speech that as the largest pragmatic cooperation project between China and Zambia, as well as the key project in Forum on China-Africa Cooperationand the Belt and Road Initiative, Kafue Gorge Lower power station would greatly relieve the current energy shortage in Zambia, and be of great significance to advance the restoration of agricultural, industrial and mining sectors in Zambia after its commercial operation. After the accomplishment of entire project, the nation’s electricity will increase by 38 percent.

There are 5 Francis turbine-generator units, with a capacity of 150MW per unit, in Kafue Gorge Lower station, the first large-scaled hydropower station since the investment and development 40 years ago and the largest project of single infrastructural construction. The station applies IMC computerized supervisory control system, SJ-12D synchronization device, SJ-30D communication management device and other equipment independently developed by NARI, and it is an iconic project of paramount significance for NARI in the expansion of international hydropower market.

It is the third project that applies the computerized supervisory control system supplied by NARI in Zambia. NARI provided its high-quality equipment and good services for Kariba North Bank Extension Project (2*180MW) in 2011 and Itezhi Power Station (2*60MW) in 2014, and left a good impression on our customer, Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO). Kafue Gorge Lower’s successful power generation also represents a solid support for NARI in developing African market.