As part of the EU-funded AGEPI project (Support for Public Finance Management, Public Enterprises, PPPs and Financial Inclusion) in Angola, Expertise France is recruiting a short-term Technical Expert to conduct a feasibility study for the Chipindo transmission line project. 

Objectives of the services 

Overall objective:

The primary objective is to move the Chipindo transmission line PPP project forward by delivering a detailed feasibility study, building on the favourable conclusions reached in the pre-feasibility assessment.

Specific objectives:

Expertise France (EF) intends to hire a Technical Consultant at short notice to carry out detailed engineering design, technical specifications, and feasibility-level analysis.

The Consultant will collaborate closely with:

• the DNPPP's PPP Team lead and financial expert (already recruited for this assignment),
• and the E&S and the Legal Experts (currently under selection for recruitment). 

The project's Team leader is responsible for ensuring consistency and quality across all expert activities and deliverables. These terms of reference only specify the scope of work for the technical component of the feasibility study.

Scope of services, tasks (components) and expected deliverables 

The Feasibility Study phase represents the comprehensive project preparation stage, building upon and completing the review of data obtained during the Pre-feasibility Study (2024, TaylorWessing, INESC Brasil & Infra Gestion).

At this stage, the consulting firm with other specialized experts must evaluate and determine the most appropriate technical, economic, financial, environmental, and social solutions for the transmission project.

TASK 1: Collect data, information, maps etc.

The Consultant shall collect and review all data required to implement this assignment through comprehensive review of existing reports, studies, master plans, and acquisition of additional data where necessary to execute subsequent tasks. The DNPPP will facilitate engagements with other domestic stakeholders as required.

In the absence of certain data, experts should use their assessment to find surrogate data, in accordance with internationally recognized practice and experience, and provide evidence to support their choice.

RNT-EP shall provide the Consulting Firm with updated network models for the relevant short, medium, and long-term study years. After receiving the models, the Consulting Firm shall analyze the files and modify the data to reflect any changes identified during the analysis of the collected data. The Consulting Firm shall conduct the studies using electrical systems analysis software (preferably PSSE)

TASK 2: Detailed feasibility study 

All designs and studies prepared under this assignment must comply with RNT's technical standards and specifications. The Consultant shall conduct power system analysis using PSS®E or equivalent industry-standard software to ensure compatibility with RNT's existing systems and analytical frameworks. Additionally, transmission line design must be executed utilizing PLS-CADD or equivalent software for optimal tower spotting and line design, ensuring that technical solutions meet both international best practices and RNT's operational requirements.

• Load Projection Study

The consultant must conduct a comprehensive review and update of previously provided load forecasts, incorporating all changes that have occurred since earlier forecasting studies were completed. The updated load projections must extend over the entire project lifecycle with revised forecasts developed under multiple scenarios to analyze evolving power demand patterns across the transmission system.

The consultant must perform detailed load flow studies to determine power flows under both normal operating conditions and system disturbances. The comprehensive power system analysis must include four critical technical assessments:

• • Steady-State Analysis – to determine the stable operating state of a system under normal conditions
  • Short-circuit analysis - to determine fault levels and equipment specification
  • Transmission line energization studies - to assess switching transients and equipment stress
  • Load rejection analysis - to evaluate system response to sudden load disconnections
  • Voltage stability studies - to ensure stable operation under various loading conditions
  • Frequency Stability Studies – to assess the ability of the electrical system to maintain frequency within acceptable limits.

These integrated studies will establish the essential technical foundation for selecting among feasible transmission alternatives using minimum global cost methodology (best value for money) while considering both regional performance impacts and systemic effects on the broader Angolan Interconnected Power System.

• Energy demand forecasting

The consultant must comprehensively update all data concerning power demand projections for the distribution system serving mining operations and Chipindo municipality. Building upon the pre-feasibility study forecast results, the consultant must develop refined demand projections that align capital investment requirements with actual contracted demand commitments from key industrial consumers, particularly mining operations.

The study must obtain detailed technical and operational information from mining consumers including:

• • Load projections and daily load cycles
  • Electrical configuration and characteristics of internal motors and generator
  • Number of prospective mines to be connected, their sizes (MW demand) and locations relative to Chipindo substation
  • Possibilities for sharing connection circuits between different mine substations

To account for factors that may distort projections, at least three demand scenarios must be studied: inferior scenario, base scenario and superior scenario. The study must extend projections through 2052, with particular focus on a 20-year operational period from 2032, incorporating preliminary sensitivity analysis regarding power flow magnitude and patterns.

The demand levels considered across all scenarios must remain consistent with the updated distribution system design capacity and existing Chipindo substation operational capabilities. The study must recommend flexible system configuration approaches with appropriate staging of transformer installations and infrastructure investments to supply mining operations progressively, thereby mitigating demand risk exposure and optimizing capital deployment timing.

• System Integration and Grid Impact

The Consultant must evaluate integration with the existing Chipindo 220/30 kV substation and analyze impacts on the broader Angolan grid. This analysis must include coordination with existing transmission infrastructure and comprehensive contingency analysis under N-1 conditions.

TASK 3: Output specifications for the PPP contract

• Route Analysis and Mapping

The Consultant must carry out a detailed power line route study chosen after the Prefeasibility Study and will produce: Updated topographic maps (i); Recent satellite imagery (ii); Planning maps and technical drawings (iii); All necessary cartographic materials for consulting tasks (iv).

The consultant will proceed to drone mapping for the coverage of the transmission route. 

• Preliminary Geotechnical Investigations

The Consultant must carry out preliminary geotechnical investigations, ensuring minimum technical support for the reference transmission route and for the proper identification of constraints (including preliminary determination of soil characteristics at tower foundation locations for proper dimensioning, soil classification along the route, slope stability evaluation, and preliminary geotechnical data collection necessary for construction of the transmission line and sectioning station.)

The Consultant is required to provide indication of any technical studies that may be required to ensure comprehensive coverage. 

• Distribution Line Design

The Consultant shall perform base engineering for the designs of the transmission network with technical specifications including design and calculations. All drawings prepared shall have appropriate scales for distribution components and structures.

Based on the line length profiles, terrain morphology, site access conditions, and administrative conditions, the Consulting firm must perform the following tasks: sizing poles and structures, determining the number of structures per type, selecting line accessories and conductor sections considering thermal limits, insulation coordination, and earthing provisions. The Consultant must define appropriate earthing provisions according to Angolan standards.

The Consultant shall select conductors based upon the cost and power losses of different feasible types of conductor. The Consultant shall optimally classify the types of foundations to be used according to soil types and develop typical foundation drawings for each type of foundation applicable for each type of structure.

• Sectioning station Design

The Consultant shall perform base engineering for the design of PS-Chipindo sectioning station along with technical specifications including design and calculations. The Consultant shall develop design criteria for the 30 kV sectioning station, calculations and technical specifications and data sheets of substation equipment including electrical, mechanical, protection and communication and control equipment and related accessories.

The Consultant shall prepare preliminary design suitable for bidding documents of equipment structures, structure foundations, control building, boundary wall, approach and internal roads, cable trench and associated civil works taking into consideration applicable seismic factors and preparation of all drawings.

• Protection, Control, and Telecommunications Systems Design

The Consultant shall design the protection schemes for the transmission line and associated substations, develop specifications for SCADA integration with RNT's existing network, and specify the telecommunication system (preferably utilizing OPGW technology), including its integration with RNT's national telecommunication network.

TASK 4: Estimated costs

The Consultant will determine costs of project components and equipment based on current market prices, including metal prices and quotations from equipment suppliers. Cost estimates will be prepared for equipment installation and associated operation and maintenance of the transmission line and substations. The consultant's proposal will seek the most economically advantageous technical solution for the public authority (best value for money: quality/price).

The project cost estimate will be organized by work components including transmission line, substation, protection and communication systems, civil works, and consultancy services, with breakdown into foreign and local cost components. Major components will be detailed to the highest level possible, showing conductors, towers, insulators, breakers, and switches separately. The cost estimates will separately identify operation and maintenance costs, physical contingency, price contingency, and applicable taxes and duties.

Costs should include all relevant components, including: Equipment and materials, Transport and logistics, Installation and assembly costs, Taxes, fees, and legal charges. Preliminary cost estimates for environmental mitigation and a Resettlement Action Plan should be included

TASK 5: Risk Analysis

The Consultant must identify, under the supervision of the Legal Consultant, all potential technical risks related to the development of the project, evaluate their impact and propose associated mitigation measures. This analysis will feed in the risk allocation matrix of the project. 

TASK 6: Market Sounding

The Consultant shall support the identification of private companies interested in the project. The Consultant will participate, under the supervision of the Financial Expert and support of Legal and E&S Experts, to organize the Market sounding meeting prior to the launching of the procurement phase. The market sounding meeting will determine whether the project will generate sufficient interest from the private sector to attract serious and high-quality proposals and will also verify that the technical solution proposed in the feasibility study is appropriate.

TASK 7: Public consultation

The Consultant shall support the organization of public consultation meetings under the supervision of the E&S Experts. The consultant will take into account relevant observations made by users and stakeholders which may involve technical adjustments.

Responsibilities of the Technical Expert

The main responsibilities of the technical expert are highlighted, but not limited to, as follows:

Technical expertise lead

• Oversee all technical aspects of the feasibility study and coordinate activities across all specialized experts to ensure integrated project delivery;
• Prepare executive summaries, conclusions, and recommendations for all major reports and presentations to project stakeholders;
• Experience in preparing project plans for energy projects and leading teams;
• Experience in transportation networks is considered an advantage, as are excellent writing and communication skills;
• Support in identifying private companies interested in the project in view to organize market sounding meeting;
• Support in the organization of public consultations.

Power Systems Analysis

• Conduct comprehensive load projection studies and energy demand forecasting
• Perform detailed load flow studies, short-circuit analysis, transmission line energization studies, load rejection analysis, and voltage stability studies for both normal and N-1 contingency conditions;
• Evaluate system integration requirements with existing substation and assess impacts on the broader Angolan Interconnected Power System
• Determine reactive compensation requirements for maintaining voltage levels within acceptable limits during contingency situations;
• Develop technical specifications for protection and communication systems, ensuring coordination with existing transmission infrastructure;
• Prepare detailed cost estimates for protection and communication equipment based on current market prices and supplier quotations;

Transmission Lines analysis

• Conduct detailed route analysis and mapping for the selected transmission corridor, producing updated topographic maps, satellite imagery, planning maps, and technical drawings;
• Oversee geological and geotechnical investigations including surveys;
• Perform base engineering for the distribution network design, including sizing of poles and structures, determining structure quantities by type, and selecting line accessories and conductor sections;
• Select optimal conductors based on cost analysis and power loss calculations for different feasible conductor types;
• Prepare detailed cost estimates for transmission line components;

Substation engineering analysis

• Perform base engineering design for the PS-Chipindo sectioning station, including design criteria, calculations, and technical specifications for all substation equipment;
• Develop detailed specifications and data sheets for electrical, mechanical, protection, communication, and control equipment, ensuring compatibility with existing Chipindo substation infrastructure;
• Prepare comprehensive engineering drawings suitable for bidding documents, including single-line diagrams, general arrangement drawings, and construction details;
• Determine substation equipment costs based on current market prices and manufacturer quotations, organizing estimates by major components;