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| World news


Agrarians, Other Civilians, and International Justice,” examines the environmental, agricultural, and humanitarian consequences of the dam’s destruction.


Environmental impacts The report highlights the severe environmental damage caused by the flooding, which submerged vast areas of land and contaminated water sources with pollutants from industrial sites and agricultural runoff. Ecosystems in the region have been severely disrupted, with the loss of habitats for numerous plant and animal species, some of which are endangered.


Agricultural impacts The flooding has had a catastrophic effect on agriculture in the region. It destroyed crops and rendering large swaths of fertile land unusable for cultivation. The report estimates that thousands of hectares of farmland have been affected. This dealt a significant blow to Ukraine’s agricultural sector and threatening food security in the region.


Humanitarian consequences The report also details the humanitarian crisis resulting from the dam’s destruction, with tens of thousands of people displaced from their homes and communities. Access to clean water, food, and essential services has been severely disrupted, exacerbating the already dire situation faced by civilians in the conflict- affected areas.


International justice The report argues that the intentional destruction of the Kakhovka Dam constitutes an environmental war crime under international law. It calls for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible, emphasizing the importance of preserving evidence and documenting the impacts for potential future legal proceedings. The comprehensive nature of the report, combining environmental, agricultural, humanitarian, and legal perspectives, underscores the far-reaching consequences of the Kakhovka Dam’s destruction and the urgent need for a coordinated international response to address the crisis.


Australia Federal Government approves plans for Edgar Dam upgrades The Federal Government has approved Hydro Tasmania’s planned upgrades to Edgar Dam in southwest Tasmania. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office confirmed that the Edgar Dam upgrades would not significantly impact the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) or other nationally significant environmental matters, provided the work follows specific guidelines.


This decision came after the project


was reviewed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Department of Climate Change, the Environment, Energy and Water (DCCEEW) determined the Edgar Dam works were ‘not a controlled action – particular manner’, acknowledging Hydro Tasmania’s environmental controls and deciding no further assessments or conditions were necessary. Hydro Tasmania’s Executive General Manager of Assets and Infrastructure, Jesse Clark, announced that the decision allows work to begin later this year. “It’s great to get to this point after several years of design, planning, approvals, and community consultation,” Clark said. The tender process for specialist construction services will now proceed, with work expected to span over two summers. Environmental controls include: Limiting truck movements within the TWWHA to daylight hours to reduce wildlife impact Thoroughly washing vehicles before entering and exiting the site Importing materials from an accredited quarry Minimizing the site footprint and vegetation clearing


Edgar Dam is adjacent to the Lake Edgar Fault Line, initially believed to be inactive. However, recent investigations confirmed the fault could not be considered inactive. The upgrades will include new downstream gravel filters and rock fill to support the existing dam, enhancing its seismic resistance in the unlikely event of a major earthquake, according to national guidelines. The Edgar Dam is part of the Gordon-Pedder


Hydro Scheme, which provides crucial multi- seasonal storage and 13% of Tasmania’s renewable energy.


Pakistan Work progresses at Suki Kinari hydropower project The Suki Kinari hydropower Project has reached a significant milestone with the completion of the first stage of reservoir impoundment in March 2024. The 884 MW project, situated in the Kaghan Valley in Pakistan, continues to advance with the second stage of impoundment initiated in May 2024. The project team will undertake a


comprehensive flushing, cleaning, and inspection of the headrace tunnel. This will precede a critical first filling test aimed at detecting any potential leakage, abnormalities, and ensuring compliance with design specifications. The methodical filling and discharging of the hydraulic pressure tunnel will be conducted in stages, taking into account factors such as water head, rock conditions, and tunnel characteristics. The headrace tunnel, a key component of the


project, spans 23.13km with an inner diameter of 6.3m. It is designed to handle a discharge


of 114.6m3 /sec, with a maximum capacity of 126.06m3/sec. The filling of the headrace tunnel


and surge shaft will require approximately 771,000m3


of water. At the heart of the Suki Kinari project are four


Pelton turbine generators, each with a capacity of 221MW, collectively contributing to the total capacity of 884MW. The hydropower plant boasts a maximum net head of 922.72m and a minimum head of 845.76m, with an expected average annual generation of 3.129 billion kWh. The reservoir’s operating parameters are set with a maximum level of 2233m and a minimum level of 2223m, holding a storage capacity of 10.37 million m3


below the minimum operating


level. The project also features an underground powerhouse located approximately 400m deep and a tailrace tunnel extending about 1583m. The project team aims to bring the first unit


into commercial operation by July 2024, as IWP&DC goes to press.


Bulgaria EIB to assess feasibility of new pumped storage plants The European Investment Bank (EIB) will assist Bulgaria’s national electricity company, Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania EAD (NEK), in developing two large pumped storage hydropower plants in the country’s southwest. These projects, Batak and Dospat, aim to enhance both domestic and European Union energy supplies. Each plant will add around 800MW of generation capacity and expand storage capabilities, strengthening the electricity supply in Bulgaria and the EU. EIB Advisory – as a main partner of the InvestEU Advisory Hub of the European Commission – will examine the technical feasibility and economic viability of the two projects as well as assess their benefits and risks. This will allow NEK to make informed decisions crucial for the development of the two projects. “The EIB supports the development of


strategic sustainable investment projects in the energy sector across the European Union and beyond,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris. “We are pleased to provide the Bank’s expertise in assessing the feasibility and the viability of the two projects, which can significantly impact Bulgaria’s energy mix and enhance the stability of its power grid while reinforcing the overall European energy grid infrastructure.” The advisory support for NEK underlines the EIB’s dedication to sustainable energy transformation across the EU. Located near the towns of Batak and Dospat, these projects, with an estimated cost of about €900 million each, are expected to be operational by 2032 and are included in the Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) 2024 of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).


www.waterpowermagazine.com | July 2024 | 7


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