Dam feasibility study complete

 KUMUL Consolidated Holdings (KCH) has received a five-volume feasibility study for the construction of the proposed hydro dam project at Karamui, Chimbu.

The study presented last Friday  in Port Moresby followed a memorandum of understanding between the Government, the Simbu provincial government and Italian firm, Salini Impregilo in April last year.

Salini Impregilo is a global industrial giant with over 100 years’ experience in the construction of big projects such as dams and hydroelectric plants, hydraulic works, railways and metro systems, airports and motorways. 

The company is recognised as a world leader in the construction of infrastructure projects in the water segment, having built 257 dams and hydroelectric plants. 

It is at present involved in the development of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, one of the biggest and ambitious infrastructure in the world which will be the largest dam in Africa with a total installed capacity of 6000 megawatts and an average estimated production of around 15,700 gigawatts per hour in a year.

In the Karamui hydro dam feasibility study, the company highlights challenges that go beyond construction of the dam.

These include the building of road and bridge infrastructure throughout Chimbu leading up to the dam site to facilitate construction activities. 

It will upgrade and replace 42 bridges between Lae and the site.

The study also covered other aspects of the project including social and environmental considerations. 

Last Friday’s presentation was made by Salini’s senior executives including executive director, Leopoldo Carlesimo, directors Enrico La Civita and Mauro Marangio, and attended by Chimbu Governor Noah Kool, Member for Karimui-Nomane Mogerema Sigo Wei, chairman of KCH Paul Nerau, and KCH managing director Garry Hersey.  They were satisfied with the completion of the study and would present it to relevant authorities for approval.