Between June and July 2026, four sets of 110kV oil-immersed power transformers (20MVA / 30MVA) independently developed and manufactured by Ningbo Tian’an Electric, along with a full suite of supporting spare parts, were loaded onto vessels at Ningbo Port and Shanghai Port in separate consignments for overseas shipment. The equipment will be transported across the ocean to Kigali, Rwanda, for the new construction and upgrading project of the local NYAMATA Substation. It will fully support the capacity expansion and renovation of Rwanda’s core power grid in the capital and guarantee consistent, stable power supply for urban districts.
Rwanda in East Africa features a hot, humid and rainy climate, alongside complex geological conditions and overland transportation routes. The full set of high-voltage equipment has to undergo transoceanic sea freight followed by ultra-long overland multimodal transport across inland Africa. This imposes stringent requirements on the transformers, including insulation durability, operational stability, vibration and shock resistance, high-temperature and moisture resistance, as well as service life. Based on the actual on-site operating conditions of NYAMATA Substation, the R&D team of Tian’an Electric developed customized optimized solutions for the equipment. The whole design complies with IEC international electrical standards and special technical requirements of the project, with targeted reinforced upgrades carried out on four core modules: main equipment structure, high-voltage insulation configuration, forced cooling system, and anti-vibration & moisture-proof structure for ocean transportation. The 110kV main transformers delivered this batch boast core advantages including low energy loss, low operating noise and stable performance under long-term load operation. They perfectly meet the demand of Rwanda’s power grid for non-stop year-round operation, and underpin safe, efficient and stable power supply of the regional power grid from the hardware perspective.
After winning the bid for this key overseas power transmission and transformation project in Rwanda, the company set up a special execution team to follow up the whole delivery process:
Production and quality inspection: Full-process quality control for high-voltage equipment was implemented. All four 110kV transformers successfully passed a complete series of type tests including temperature rise test, insulation withstand voltage test, short-time withstand current test and overall mechanical strength test, with all technical indicators accepted at one time.
Logistics and shipment: A dual-port split delivery scheme was adopted to cut overall ocean freight costs for the overseas client. In light of the varying dimensions and weights of the transformers, multiple transport carriers including 40-foot high cubes, open-top containers, special frame containers and ro-ro ships were arranged for batch shipment. All main transformers and accessories were packed with standardized ocean-going anti-vibration, moisture-proof and rust-proof protection, which minimizes risks of collision, dampness and deformation during multi-segment long-distance intermodal transport. This ensures the equipment arrives intact at the project site in Rwanda and shortens the cycles for on-site installation, commissioning and grid connection.
The smooth shipment of the four 110kV high-voltage power transformers to the NYAMATA Substation project in Kigali, Rwanda marks another practical cooperation achievement of Ningbo Tian’an in expanding its footprint in East Africa’s power transmission and transformation market and delivering China-Africa energy infrastructure projects. It further boosts the company’s brand exposure and market competitiveness in the sector of complete high-voltage power transmission and transformation equipment across Africa.
Moving forward, Ningbo Tian’an Electric will continue to deepen its presence in the global power market. By relying on independent technological innovation and full-chain quality control to develop high-quality power transmission and transformation equipment, the enterprise will keep building a benchmark for Chinese manufacturing going global, and support the modernization upgrading of power grids in multiple African countries.