SONABEL, Burkina Faso’s power company, has notified the Volta River Authority (VRA) that owing to the fast increase in water level caused by large inflows recorded into the Bagre dam, spillage would begin if the Bagre dam reaches a height of 234.75 meters.
The height on Sunday, August 29, 2021, was 234.32 meters, compared to a maximum elevation of 235 meters.
This spilling is precautionary, with the goal of reducing the pace of spillage if the inflow into the dam continues to rise.
VRA, in a statement, indicated that “Information reaching us from our SONABEL counterparts indicates that the spiling from the Bagre Dam will start any day from August 27, 2021.”
The large inflow into the Bagre dam was explained as a consequence of the high amount of rainfall in the Sahel area, which was anticipated by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) and other international meteorological agencies at the start of the rainy season.
VRA said that it, together with SONABEL, has been monitoring the situation to guarantee that any leakage is communicated to the appropriate authorities and the public in advance.
“VRA will also continue to engage with SONABEL to be informed on the amount of spiling they intend to undertake,” it added.
It also promised to continue monitoring the situation and collaborating with agencies such as NADMO, Regional Coordinating Councils, Metropolitan and District Assemblies, Water Resources Commission, security agencies, and others to ensure prompt response to any emergency and to provide regular updates on the situation to advise accordingly.
In the announcement, VRA also said that it has begun the execution of the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam project by carrying out a number of pre-construction project operations.
“The Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contractor, PowerChina, has completed the topographical and geotechnical activities necessary for carrying out detailed dam design. They have again carried out surveys to identify potential sources of construction material such as clay for the core of the dam, coarse and fine aggregates for concrete works, rocks for the rock-fill dam, and laterite material for the embankment dam,” it indicated.
“Furthermore, the VRA has completed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and the associated mitigation measures. Additionally, the VRA, working with the Lands Commission, has completed the valuation of assets of all project-affected persons. The Lands Commission will use the information to determine the compensation to be paid to impacted persons before their relocation.”
The spilling of the Bagre dam from neighboring Burkina Faso is an annual activity to prevent the dam’s banks from breaking.
The dam has been spilled throughout the years when it exceeds its bank in August or September.
This leakage often causes floods and evictions in villages along the White Volta in the Bawku Municipality, Bawku West, Garu, Binduri, Nabdam, and Talensi districts.
The $993 million Pwalugu multifunctional dam project is intended to act as a flood control device, preventing the loss of life and property caused by recurrent floods.
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