Rehabilitation of the 120 kV Nseke–RO Transmission Line in the Democratic Republic of Congo

 

Faced with a critical situation in the Lualaba region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sescon/Gruner joint venture was commissioned by SNEL and METALKOL to rehabilitate a 120 kV power line connecting the Nseke hydroelectric power station (260 MW) to the Kolwezi West distribution substation.

This line had been out of service since 2023 following acts of vandalism, which limited the supply of green energy to local mining activities in a region rich in copper and cobalt.

Gruner carried out the preliminary design studies, prepared the tender documents, awarded the contract and supervised the works. Thanks to the mobilisation of several  teams and the efficiency of the Sescon/Gruner associated teams, the project was completed in an exceptionally short time frame: just over a year between the start of the studies and the commissioning of the rebuilt line, including only eight months for the works. This is 50% less than the usual average duration of equivalent projects.

During the studies, Gruner's engineers and experts proposed technical choices that would speed up the construction phase while limiting or even eliminating all future risks of vandalism.
The rehabilitated line has been fully operational since September 2025. It now enables the client to supply its industrial facilities with renewable energy, significantly reducing its dependence on oil-fired generators and the associated costs. This project represents a concrete step towards a sustainable energy transition in the Congolese mining sector.

The official inauguration took place on 7 October 2025, in the presence of the Minister of Water Resources and Electricity, Aimé Sakombi Molendo, highlighting the strategic importance of this infrastructure for regional development.

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