LEUBIPOUAKI. The construction of the hydroelectric turbine: let's go!

After nearly two years of studies, altitude readings, flow, calculations, diagrams, etc. The construction of the hydroelectric turbine in Leubipouaki, built with the financial support and expertise of the EDF foundation, is on track.

 We usually say that if we knew where we were going, we would never start anything. The project is indeed big: the electrification of a village of 80 houses and his school. The people of Leubipouaki are lucky: they have a year round mountain stream with a strong fall, and constant flow. Almost entirely Buddhist (only one Christian family), it is very far from centers, and stays away from progress.

 The first estimations give us a turbine output of 5 to 6 KW, largely enough to ensure the lighting of homes, consumption of the school, probably one or two refrigerators, and feed threshing machines and small machines farm. The isolation is the major difficulty of this project: it is to deliver by tracks in very bad condition not less than 60 electrical poles of concrete, 200 pipes, the sand, gravel and cement necessary for the dam of altitude, the wires, the turbine, etc. It is a logistical challenge so, since it must also be able to manage masons, electricians, welders. Fortunately, the municipal team, the mayor and his deputies, is first and foremost, and the villagers are so willing and enthusiastic that it is sometimes necessary to slow down their zeal ... To date, the poles are delivered, as well as a good part of the materials for the dam. Our fleet of 4X4 ​​trucks is here very appreciable.