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