ANGOLA – LAÚCA POWER PLANT (2004 MW) - FULLY OPERATIONAL

The sixth unit of the main power plant of the Laúca Hydropower Project began operating this December, thus reaching the total envisaged capacity of 2004 MW. Among other works currently under construction is the environmental flow power plant, with an additional capacity of 65.5 MW.

This power plant, located on the Kwanza River, is currently the second largest hydroelectric plant in operation in Africa (after Cahora Bassa with 2075 MW). COBA has been responsible for the Owners Engineer activities, comprising Technical Assistance, Construction Supervision and Design Review.

The phased entry into operation of the Laúca generating units over the last 4 years has more than doubled the installed hydropower capacity in Angola and has contributed decisively, together with the Cambambe 2 power plant (714 MW) – in which COBA was also the Owners Engineer – towards solving permanent shortage of electricity supply to Luanda and much of Angola's territory, making it possible to expand the Central System of the National Power Grid and respective distribution networks, covering presently a total of 10 provinces where approximately 70% of the Angolan population lives.

The Caculo Cabaça Hydropower Undertaking (2120 MW), with Detailed Design developed by COBA and for which we are responsible for Design Review, is currently in its initial construction phase and will further reinforce the renewable energy generation capacity of the country.

Lx, 31 Dec 2020

ALGERIA – COMPLETION OF THE BENI SLIMANE DAM CONSTRUCTION

The Beni Slimane Dam in Médea is another dam designed by COBA in Algeria for ANBT - Agence Nationale des Barrages et Transferts [Algerian National Agency for Dams and Transfers], whose works are almost completed.

COBA was the author of the Detailed Design and Tender Documents for the abovementioned works, which included the design of a 66 m-high zoned embankment dam, with a crest length of 280 m, a volume of embankments of 1,850,000 m3 and a storage capacity of 28 hm3.

Lx, 17 Dec 2020

CAMEROON - MAGA AND YAGOUA RICE PERIMETERS

The mission to the Far North Region of Cameroon was successfully completed. Despite the difficult times we are living in and the geographical context of the project, an inspection mission to the Maga and Yagoua Rice Perimeters was recently carried out by a COBA team, making numerous contacts and knowledge exchanges with the local entities responsible for the VIVA-Logone Project (PULCI), for the operation of these perimeters (SEMRY) and also with local people.

The on-site understanding of the Logone River, hydraulic infrastructures to undergo rehabilitation works and of the needs and difficulties experienced by those who live and manage these irrigation facilities will decisively contribute to obtaining better and more effective solutions, which will flow to improving the working and living conditions of these populations.

Lx, 03 Dec 2020

DOCTOR RAÚL PISTONE HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE COMMISSION ON TUNNELING AND UNDERGROUND SPACE (CPT)

We were pleased to receive the news of the appointment of Dr. Raúl Pistone as President of the Portuguese Commission on Tunneling and Underground Space (CPT) for the four-year period of 2020-2024. The CPT is the entity representing Portugal in the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (ITA).

The nomination of Dr. Raúl Pistone to the Presidency of this body greatly honours us all. He has been working with COBA since 1993 and is currently a Member of the Technical Advisory Committee. Apart from being both nationally and internationally recognised as a specialist in this field, he plays an important role overseas as an ambassador for COBA and the Portuguese Engineering.

Lx, 03 Dec 2020

ALGERIA – COMPLETION OF THE SEKLAFA DAM CONSTRUCTION

Subsequently to the tenders launched by ANBT - Agence Nationale des Barrages et Transferts [Algerian National Agency for Dams and Transfers], the construction works pertaining to the Seklafa Dam on the M'Zi Oued and the Water Transfer from the Chergui Oued in Laghouat are nearly finished.

COBA was responsible for the Detailed Design and Tender Documents for the abovementioned works, which included the design of a main concrete gravity dam with a height of 47 m and crest length of 225 m, a diversion weir with a height of approximately 15 m and an intake channel with a length of 3300 m.

Lx, 17 Nov 2020

SIERRA LEONE - CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT OF THE GUMA VALLEY WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

COBA’s staff, Mr. Luis Silveira and Mr. Virgílio Rebelo, returned last September from Freetown, Sierra Leone, where they presented the conclusions drawn from the Conditions Assessment of Guma Dam, Transmission and Reservoirs System and Assessment of Treatment Processes at Guma Valley Water Treatment Plant, a project awarded in 2019 by the Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit (MCCU) of Sierra Leone to a Consortium led by COBA.

The current pandemic context did not allow the physical presence of the entire project team in the formal presentation session, and therefore the technical presentation sessions were complemented with the support of COBA's communications team, through the prior distribution of video presentations to all the guests.

Several personalities were present, including the Minister of Water Resources, Mr. P. K. Lansana; the CEO of the MCCU, Ms. Ndeye Koroma; the Managing Director of the GVWC (Guma Valley Water Company), Mr. Maada Kpenge. During this session, the project was highly praised.

Throughout the studies’ development, several working missions were carried out with the colleagues Mr. Acácio Santo, Ms. Ana Braga and Ms. Lúcia Almeida, creating close ties with the Client and the local authorities responsible for the infrastructures’ operation. These studies also led to the visit of colleagues Mr. José Honrado and Mr. Bartolomeu Alicerces, from the International Direction.

The project team challenged the COBA Group’s staff to join the "Solidarity Gift 2020", dedicated to a school community near Freetown. This mission also allowed the transportation and delivery of the received contributions, which included school materials acquired with the money raised within the COBA Group.

The wide media coverage associated to this challenge reflects the importance of this project, as it is one of the country's main infrastructures providing water to the capital city of Freetown.

National TV Coverage

Press and Radio Coverage

Lx, 20 Oct 2020

COBA MEMBER OF THE GLOBAL COMPACT NETWORK PORTUGAL (GCNP)

COBA is now a member of the Global Compact Network Portugal (GCNP), a Portuguese network of organisations representing the United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact), which is the United Nations’ corporate sustainability initiative.

GCNP is composed of national and international organisations operating in Portugal, and aims to implement the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals of United Nation’s 2030 Agenda by disseminating them to the interested parties and society at large, by sharing experiences among stakeholders worldwide.

Lx, 22 Jul 2020

58 YEARS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

June 28th was a special day for the COBA universe.

Although the current contingency period did not enable the celebrations we hoped for, we did not miss the opportunity without a brief note that reflects on who we are and what we wish for.

Lx, 3 Jul 2020

ALGERIA - COBA'S PARTICIPATION IN THE DETAILED DESIGN REVIEW AND APPROVAL, SUPERVISION AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHIFFA - BERROUAGHIA HIGHWAY (2013 - 2020)

Since the summer of 2013 COBA has led a Portuguese-Algerian group responsible for the supervision of the construction works of the RN1 highway section between Chiffa and Berrouaghia, controlled by Algérienne des Autoroutes (ADA), and integrated in the Transaharian Algiers - Lagos Highway (9,000 km).

COBA's scope of intervention includes the review and approval of the Detailed Design, Construction Supervision and Technical Advisory Services to ADA.

Initially contracted as a doubling of National Road NR1, with a length of 53 km, the project was later reformulated and gave way to a 3-lane highway partly following the old route of national road RN1. In several sections it was necessary to proceed with significant ripping of the axis, as a result of its insertion in a mountainous region and the geometric limitations of layout imposed by the ICTAAL standards.

From North to South, the crossing of the Chiffa mountainous gorges, the contour of Médea and the arrival at the city of Berrouaghia required the construction of two double tunnels totalling 9.6 km, 52 viaducts, 10 interchanges and earthworks amounting to approximately 31 million cubic meters. The project also includes 20 over and underpasses and 180 culverts.

When the confinement measures imposed by COVID-19 were implemented, the section currently under construction had only two operating work fronts, associated with the completion of two viaducts, under the responsibility of the Algerian company SAPTA.

The Supervision Team, in full compliance with the Owner’s instructions, has maintained a daily presence on site with only 50% of the initial personnel. This work strategy requires rotating work shifts, organized in such a manner that all specialties are safeguarded.

Lx, 22 Jun 2020

ALGERIA - COBA'S PARTICIPATION IN THE DETAILED DESIGN REVIEW AND APPROVAL, SUPERVISION AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHIFFA - BERROUAGHIA HIGHWAY (2013 - 2020)

At such a complex time of people and companies’ lives, the COBA Group has maintained its activity, fulfilling its commitments with the usual high-quality standards.

Anticipating the governmental contingencies declared in the meantime, the COBA Group timely invested in remote working technologies and solutions, thus seeking to protect its employees, partners and clients.

We are aware of the complexity of the situation and of the inevitable more severe measures that were imposed. The Group assumed its role in minimizing chains of infection and established early confinement plans with the double purpose: a rapid pandemic containment and a quick financial recovery, thus minimizing the individual and corporate effects of this crisis.

We continue to fulfil our obligations towards Clients by maintaining the stable development of our projects – both nationally and internationally – and, together with our stakeholders, seek new approaches and global platforms of understanding.

We will continue to protect and improve our teams’ working conditions.

We believe in the future!

Apart but united!

Lx, 31 Mar 2020