Post on 01-Jan-2016
CHINA GOES GLOBAL PROJECT:
China’s Engagement in the Bui Hydropower Project, Ghana
Prof. Paul Yankson, Prof. Alex Asiedu and Dr. Kwadwo Owusu
Department of Geography and Resource DevelopmentUniversity of Ghana, Legon
Outline
Introduction
Background to the Project
Cost and Benefits
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)
Aspects of China’s Role and Footprint in the Project
Management of the Project
What has been achieved so far?
Conclusion
Bui Hydropower Project-Construction as at 2010
IntroductionPrincipal Installed Electricity Generation Capacity in Ghana
Hydroelectricity: Akosombo (1.020 MW) y Kpong (160 MW)
Two Biogas Plants (550 MW) in Aboadze, Takoradi SunonAsogli Power (Ghana) 200 MW Tema Thermal 1 Power Plant (110 MW) Tema Thermal 2 Power Plant (49.5 MW) Mines Reserve Plant Diesel, (80 MW) (Energy Commission, 2012)
Statistics for the Demand and Consumption of Energy in Ghana
In 1997, consumption was 7.235 Gwh and will increase to 11.953 GWh by
2020 (ERM, 2006)
Annual rate of increase in consumption in Ghana is 6%. Ghana needs to increase her power generation from 1067MW from 1997 to
1899MW in 2020 (Ibid.)
There was the need to increase the supply of electricity in Ghana in
Urban areas from 78 to 82%
Rural areas from 24% to 28% (Gordon, 2006)
Prospect to construct a dam at the Bui Gorge has been
explored for several years.
Albert Kitson found the suitability of the gorge for
constructing a 100 and 200 foot dam. He envisaged this dam
to provide source of power for future railway to the northern
part of Ghana.
Other surveys conducted in the area were:
– J. S. Zuhk hydroprojeckt of former USSR in 1966
– Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) in 1976.
– Coyne et Bellier of France in 1995 which was revised in 2006
Background
THE BUI HYDROPOWER PROJECT
Location
The Bui Hydropower Dam is being
constructed at the Bui Gorge on the
Black Volta River.
The Black Volta is an interstate river
basin shared among Ghana, Burkina
Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali.
The Project is located in the north-
western part of Ghana, the regional
boundary between Northern and Brong
Ahafo Regions.
It is located very close to the Bui
National Park created in 1971 under the
Wildlife Reserve Regulation (L.I. 710 of
1971)
Description
The project is made up of constructing of a 1,000,000 m3 of
Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) gravity dam with a minimum
height of 110 metres.
It will have two saddle dams located about 500 m and 1 km
from the main dam.
Power will be generated from a surface powerhouse at the
dam on its left bank.
The installed capacity of the turbine generator units will be
400MW
Actual Construction
Project Phase II
•The erection of a Roller Compacted Concrete
(RCC) Batching and crushing plant
•Transmission line works.
•Construction of a downstream permanent
bridge.
•Foundation excavation and treatment of the
substructure and subsequent erection of the
superstructure of the dam.
Project Phase I
• Establishing of temporary camp for
constructional facilities
• Construction of access roads
connecting the dam site and the
quarry area.
• Diverting the course of the river
channel.
• Batching plant for concrete
production and establishing a
permanent explosive magazine.
The final ground broke in 2007 when the Government of Ghana signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with Sinohydro of China to construct the dam
The estimated cost of the project is US$622 million. However, as a result of global
economic upheavals and unexpected works, an additional amount of US$168 million
will be required to complete the project.
Some perceived benefits:
•The 400MW power supply from the dam will augment the power from Akosombo
and Kpong Dams.
•Potential export of electricity to Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali under the
West Africa Power Pool Project (WAPP) arrangement.
•Construction of the Bui City and agro-tourism
•Construction and improvement of social infrastructure like roads, schools,
hospitals, fishing harbour and irrigation scheme (30,000 hectares of land).
•Employment generation for the native especially during the construction phase.
Cost and Benefits
Construction of the dam is governed by international and national
environmental legislations and guidelines
According to the ESIA, the dam will have many environmental, social
and economic consequences in the project area.
• The dam’s reservoir of 444km2 will inundate vegetation and land resources
located below 183 metres upstream.
• At full supply level (FSL) of the dam, the reservoir could flood not less than 21%
of the existing Bui National Park.
• The reservoir will also flood the habitat and feeding grounds of fauna species
like the last remains of the black hippopotamus, causing them to migrate.
• The project will also affect many villages. Those directly affected were
Battor/Akanyakrom, Bui Village, Dam Site, Brewohodi, Lucene/Loga, Dokokyina
and Agbegikuro.
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)
China has played a pivotal role in the on-going construction of the Bui
Hydropower Dam.
Finance: Out of the estimated project cost of US$622 million, US$562 is sought
from The Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM-Bank).
The breakdown amount is as follows:
263.5 million US dollars Concessional Loan from the Government of China
298.5 million US dollars Buyer`s Credit from the Exim Bank
Construction: The engineering works involved in the construction of the project
is being undertaken by a Chinese Engineering Company, Sinohydro.
However, the consultancy services is being provided by Coyne et Bellier
Consultancy Services of France.
The Chinese ambassador to Ghana and his wife on 1st December, 2011 presented
20 bicycles, 20 sewing machines, 10 footballs, 50 mosquito nets, 2 printers and 20
bags of rice to support the dam affected communities (GNA, 3rd December, 2011).
Aspects of China’s Role and Footprints in the Project
The Bui Dam Secretariat was created in 2001 to see through the operations involved in
desk preparatory stage.
An Act of Parliament (Act 740)of 2007 established the Bui Power Authority (BPA) to
form the main body in charge of managing the dam.
Some of its functions are:
•Managing the implementation of the Bui Hydropower Project.
•Procurement and construction of the dam and its appurtenant structures.
•Designing, manufacturing and installing the plant.
•Designing, manufacturing and constructing of about 260km of power transmission
lines.
•Generating and supplying of electricity for the country.
•Developing a new city, Bui City.
•Impounding of the waters of the Black Volta River and managing the lake to be formed.
Management of the Project
Dam Construction
About 90% of the construction process has so far been achieved.
Activities involved in the phase one started in January 2008 and had since been
completed.
Activities involved in phase two have already started and still ongoing.
Resettlement
All the phases involved in the resettlement have been completed.
There are few residents still in Dokokyina who have refused to be resettled.
What has been achieved so far and what is left to be achieved?
Conclusion
The realisation of the Bui Hydropower Project which for many years
has been on the drawing board is presently one of the ‘darling’ projects
in Ghana.
It was the most significant product from the bilateral and
technological corporation between Ghana and China until the recent
approval of 3billion US dollar loan to Ghana .
Upon completion, the project will play an important role in helping to
address Ghana’s energy short falls