Opportunity
Jamaica is highly dependent on oil imports to meet its energy requirements. It is currently making efforts to reduce its reliance on these, with hydropower presenting a clean and reliable alternative.
Solution
Mott MacDonald was retained as designer and technical advisor for a project to double the power capacity of the Maggotty hydroelectric plant, built in the late 1950s on the Black River.
Outcome
Upgrades include the replacement of a woodstave pipeline with glass-fiber-reinforced polyester pipe, and a new powerhouse with two horizontal-axis Francis turbines.