Africa |
Building on African potential
IWP&DC tracks some of the hydropower projects that are currently under development throughout the continent
SMEC and Surbana Jurong will carry out a masterplan study for the Lake Volta region in Ghana Côte d’Ivoire
The 44MW Singrobo-Ahouaty hydropower project in Côte d’Ivoire has reached financial closure with the African Development Bank Group as mandated lead arranger. Located on the Bandama River, 150km
from Abidjan, the scheme will connect rural inhabitants in the surrounding villages to the national grid, improve power supply reliability and reduce dependence on fossil fuels during peak demand periods. The project, which aligns with the African Development Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa, will increase energy access for the population and the share of renewables in Côte d’Ivoire’s energy mix. African Development Bank Director for
Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulations, Wale Shonibare, said: “The Singrobo-Ahouaty power plant will leverage the huge potential in Côte d’Ivoire to provide clean energy from hydropower. Despite the current global challenges induced by the Covid-19 pandemic and supply-chain related cost escalation, the project reflects the bank’s resilience and leadership in the African energy marketplace in guiding it to financial close.” Singrobo-Ahouaty is the first independent power producer hydro project to be developed by a local sponsor in Côte d’Ivoire. It will be developed by the Africa Finance Corporation, Themis (backed by global energy transition
investment firm Denham Capital) and local sponsor Ivoire Hydro Energy Holding. The financing package is made up of €40 million from the African Development Bank Group, with additional financing from the Africa Finance Corporation, the German Investment Corporation DEG and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund.
Ghana
SMEC, along with Surbana Jurong, has been engaged to carry out a masterplan study for the Lake Volta region. The project will deliver an integrated, long-term Regional Development Plan, exploring the economic potential of Lake Volta and surrounding areas while protecting its natural environment. With more than three million people within a 100km2 catchment area, Lake Volta is a multi-
potential resource for Ghana. As the largest artificial reservoir in the world based on surface area, guidance is needed to ensure sustainable environmental management of the area, and to progress sustainable urban, industrial, and socio-economic development. In 2016, SMEC parent company Surbana
Jurong prepared a long-term plan for the transformation of the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone (NSEZ), covering the northern half of Ghana. In 2022, SMEC Ghana identified an opportunity to extend the study to maximise
12 | March 2023 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
value for the adjacent Lake Volta region. Lake Volta is managed by the Volta River Authority (VRA). Currently, it is used to generate a substantial amount of Ghana’s electricity. It is also used for fisheries, irrigation, water transport, lake tourism, and other forest resources. The key objectives of the masterplan will cover urban development, infrastructure, local commerce, tourism, transport, agriculture, and ecology. The development of Lake Volta will further benefit and contribute to global competitiveness of agricultural and industrial products from the northern parts of Ghana to its neighbours. The scope for the master plan includes:
● Taking stock of existing socio-economic activities as well as the potential of Lake Volta for water transport, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry (including agroforestry), related downstream processing industries, logistics facilities and tourism
● Assessing sensitive environmental assets and zones related to lake volta such as wetlands, forests, national parks, other natural areas, water bodies, flora and fauna and proposing protection measures and usability conditions to extract full potential along with environmental protection
● Analysing urban settlements/key rural communities with high growth potential along Lake Volta, their roles, and possible urban expansions, and defining clear areas for urbanization
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
