Ngosa Katongo

Chief Protection & Control Engineer with 20+ years of expertise in national-scale utility infrastructure. Expert in PowerFactory DIgSILENT, IEC 61850, and multi-vendor IED configuration (ABB, Siemens, GE, Schneider). Expert in Distance, Line Differential, Overcurrent line protection schemes.

Expert in commissioning Substations and electrical design of Substation protection schemes. Lead a team of 35, enhancing network reliability and safety standards, while implementing cutting-edge protection technologies.

Chief Protection Engineer at Zambia Electricity Supply Cooperation Limited (ZESCO) (2022 – Present)

• Review and approval of protection coordination on Distribution Substations, Distribution lines using PowerFactory DIgSILENT (IEC 60909).
• Review and approval of Distribution Substations designs (11kV – 132kV).
• Review and approval of Distribution line protection schemes – Line Differential, Distance Protection, Directional and Non-Directional Overcurrent Protection (11kV – 132kV)
• Develop substation designs, including Transformer, busbar, CT, and VT sizing calculations for major infrastructure projects.
• Develop Protection Single Line Diagrams (SLDs), AC/DC Schematics, Wiring Diagrams, Terminal Plans, Cable Schedules, and Interconnection Diagrams
• Design Protection Relay Panels, Control Panels, Annunciation Panels, Metering Panels, and RTU/SCADA interfaces
• Coordinate with Civil, Telecoms and SCADA engineering teams
• Prepare Protection Relay Settings philosophy and coordinate with system studies
• Prepare engineering calculations, cable sizing, voltage drop calculations, and battery sizing
• Review and approval of Substation switchgear, protection/control panels, Transformers and protection schematic diagrams submitted by contractor before manufacture and delivery
• Specialist response to incidences of potential mal operation of protection systems
• Expert in multi-vendor IED configuration (ABB, Siemens, GE, Schneider)
• Experienced in IEC 61850 integration of protection IEDs into Substation automation systems.
• Experienced in the configuration of programmable scheme logic for protection relays
• Conduct protection coordination studies, produce settings calculations, and prepare associated drawings and schematics
• Develop detailed protection application designs for feeders, transformers, and busbars at 11 kV–132 kV, including customer interface schemes
• Team lead in design and implementation of 10 stage underfrequency protection loadshedding scheme to prevent total collapse of ZESCO network.
• Ensured 100% emergency power continuity for an international airport by designing and implementing an automated changeover scheme using ABB REF630 IEDs to manage critical load restoration.
• Certifying of Distribution transformers and switchgear during Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) and Site Acceptance Test (SAT) on behalf of ZESCO Limited
• In charge of budget preparation and implementation.
• Ensure that ZESCO SHEQ safety standards are adhered to.
• Team lead in review of ZESCO standard operating procedures.
• Team lead in preparation of technical schedules for tender evaluation bid documents.
• Manage a multidisciplinary team of 35 technical personnel across Protection, Control, and Substations, maintaining 6,900km+ of circuits.
• Lecture part time at Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC) on protection coordination.
• Mentor graduate engineers

Principal Protection Engineer at Zambia Electricity Supply Cooperation Limited (ZESCO) (2017 – 2021)

• Commissioning of Distribution Power transformers and switchgear (indoor and outdoor) in full conformance to IEC 60070.
• Commissioning of Power transformer protection schemes using IEC 60070.
• Commissioning of line protection schemes using IEC 60255.
• Scoping and design of Substations (11kV – 132kV)
• Transformer sizing calculations, busbar sizing calculations, CT sizing calculations, VT sizing calculations and NER sizing calculations.
• Testing of Substation earth grid mat
• Testing of transformer differential and REF LV stability schemes
• Proven experience with relay protection settings & calculations (IEC 60909)
• Experienced in programming and configuration of ABB, Siemens, Schneider, General Electric, Alstom and NR IEDs.
• PV Pant commissioning and SAT
• Commissioning of Diesel Generators and UPS as backup supply for Substation battery bank
• Carry out protection coordination on Distribution substations and lines using PowerFactory DIgSILENT software, following IEC 60909.

Senior Protection Engineer at Zambia Electricity Supply Cooperation Limited (ZESCO) (2012 – 2017)

• Make sure the 52 weekly annual maintenance plan is adhered to.
• Make sure the weekly battery maintenance plan is adhered to.
• Commissioning of protection and control panels, switchgear and Power Transformers up to the Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) for substation automation systems.
• Responding to general faults on the Distribution network.
• Senior Authorized Person (SAP) at 132kV.

Protection Engineer at Zambia Electricity Supply Cooperation Limited (ZESCO) (2007 – 2012)

• Pressure testing, pre-location and pinpointing of both 33kV and 11kV underground cable faults.
• Route tracing of both 33kV and 11kV underground cables.
• Carry out battery charger and battery set maintenance.
• Carry out annual maintenance on Distribution Substations based on IEC 62271.
• Post fault investigation and defect resolution across the distribution network.

Graduate Protection Engineer at Zambia Electricity Supply Cooperation Limited (ZESCO) (2005 – 2007)

• Graduate engineer induction training program in Generation, Transmission, Customer Services and Distribution Directorates. Successfully completed a two-year program with insights gained into the operations of the vertically integrated utility company, with exposure across both the technical and commercial value chain.

B. Eng (Hons) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering – University of Leicester, England (1999 – 2003)

Advanced General National Vocational Qualification in Engineering (GNVQ) in Engineering – Leicester College (Formally Charles Keene College), England (1997 – 1999)

General Certificate in Secondary Education, GCSE – Munali Secondary School, Zambia (1991 – 1996)