EMMANUEL M. K. AMEKOR, MANAGER, VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY GHANA

Transcription

1 EMMANUEL M. K. AMEKOR, MANAGER, VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY GHANA

2 MANAGING AND PROTECTING THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE VOLTA LAKE THE VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY EXPERIENCE, GHANA

3 PRESENTATION PLAN Introduction: VRA establishment and Mandates The Volta Lake Resource Water Resource Management Projects Water Resource Protection Projects (Highlights and Implementation Strategies) Institutional Arrangements Conclusions

4 VRA ESTABLISHMENT MANDATE ESTABLISHMENT Established under the Volta River Development Act 1961 (Act 46) MANDATE I Primary function is to develop the hydroelectric potential of the Volta River (through the construction of a dam and creation of a lake/reservoir) for the generation, transmission and supply/distribution of electrical energy for industrial, commercial and domestic use in Ghana and neighbouring countries

5 VRA ESTABLISHMENT MANDATE MANDATE II Act 46, 1961 also enjoined the VRA to manage the water resources of the Volta Lake to promote Tourism, Lake Transport, Irrigation, Inland Water Fishery and Aquaculture (Cage/Pen fishery).

6 VRA MANDATE AMMENDMENT AMMENDMENT LAW As part of the effort to encourage private sector participation in the energy sector, the Volta River Development (Amendment) Act 2005 (Act 692) legislation revised the VRA mandate: Transmission component of original mandate entrusted to a new National Grid Company (GRIDCo). VRA now a purely power generation company Enhanced need to protect the water resource

7 AKOSOMBO DAM AND VOLTA LAKE Rock-fill dam Completed The resultant Lake (Volta Lake, the biggest man-made lake) provided the reservoir for storage of water for hydroelectric power generation Initial installed capacity was 912MW

8 AKOSOMBO DAM+LAKE VOLTA

9 THE VOLTA LAKE RESOURCE Shoreline = 5,500km T H E V O L TA L AK E (N O R TH O F AK O S O M B O ) Surface Area = 8,500km 2 Average depth = 18.8 metres Deepest portion = 90 metres Volume of water in reservoir at full supply level of 84.73m NLD = 150 billion m3 Seasonal rise and fall =2-6m Area covered by seasonal fluctuations = 100,000ha Main tributaries: Afram river, Black Volta, White Volta, and Oti river Yap e i Bu ip e M pa ha Ka fab a N k a nc h in a Ol d M a ka ng o N Ba nda Ka bies o Yej i D am ba i Ke te K rach i Kw a dw o k ro m Ka tan ga Settlem ent ( selecte d ) V o lta L a k e Ab o to as e Kw a m ik rom N to a bo m a N ew K y ia s e Km Ag ode k e T o no Kp an d u T ok o r Brub e n Ek y ia m a nfro m Ad aw s o N k ete pa D ze m e ni Ak an tim Ak lus u D od i Is lan d Ak os o m b o

10 WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - WASTE WATER RE-USE

11 KPONG DAM AND GENERATION PLANT Built 25 km downstream from Akosombo Rock-filled dam, completed in Total installed capacity = 160 MW. To utilise the waste water from the operation of the Akosombo dam which would otherwise have flowed into the sea. Akosombo and Kpong plants are capable of producing a maximum of 1180MW

12 WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - TURBINE RETROFIT PROJECT The Akosombo retrofit project in March 2005: New runners installed improving efficiency from 87% to 93.5% Increased capacity (148MW to 170MW per turbine) from 912MW to 1020MW Reduced volume of water use for generation per unit This management of water use through technology improvement is equivalent to installation of an additional turbine.

13 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AFFECTING LAKE WATER RESOURCE AVAILABILITY BACKGROUND Tree cover depletion in the Lake catchment areas due to dependence of riparian communities on excessive wood usage. Landslide on some of the shoreline of the Lake Environmental degradation due to excessive erosion arising from drawdown farming Siltation of riverbed due to erosion and unacceptable fishing methods called in the local language ATIGYA

14 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AFFECTING LAKE WATER RESOURCE AVAILABILITY

15 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AFFECTING LAKE WATER RESOURCE AVAILABILITY

16 WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (I) Tree Cover Depletion and Minimisation Project 1984 Project Highlight: Integrated environmental management Reforestation (Tree Planting) of degraded areas to minimize the depletion of forest resources Sustainable agro-forestry interventions, Adoption of fuel-efficient ovens for fish smoking Energy-saving stoves for household cooking.

17 WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (I)

18 WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (II) Creation of wildlife/forest reserves Project Highlight: Involves the creation of about 11,400 km2 of forest reserves to protect water courses, headwaters; These reserves also served as habitats for endangered animal and plant species.

19 WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (III) Volta Gorge Protection Project Project Highlight: Protection of Lake Water Strategies: Acquisition of land within 280 foot contour of the Lake shoreline Compensation to traditional land owners MOU with communities to preserve forest area Creation of living forest to provide protection for lake and livelihood for communities

20 WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (IV) Fruit Tree Development Project Project Highlight: Alternative Income Generation Strategies: Planting of Fruit Trees within the 280 foot contour high water mark Maintenance of fruit tree plantations for 3 years Handing over of plantations to land owners The aim is to dissuade the landowners from cutting down the trees and hence protecting the shoreline and the water

21 WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (V) Buffer Zone Protection Project Project Highlight: Protection of Tributaries Strategies: Employ CBOs for planting of trees Provide tree seedlings to CBOs, grafted mango seedlings and beehives as incentive to sustain CBO activities Motivate CBOs through provision of tools and protective equipment, Monitor and rank CBO efforts and cash gifts

22 AWARENESS CREATION Environmental Education in Schools (JHS/SHS) Project Highlight: Educate pupils and students to serve as agents of awareness creation and attitudinal change. Strategies: Environmental Education Lectures Formation of Environmental Clubs Facilitating of club activities Provision of minimal financial assisstance

23 FIRE PREVENTION Fire Prevention and Management Project Highlight: Protection of forest projects from destruction by wild fire. Strategies: Community fire prevention education programmes Creation of fire belts around protected areas Prompt response to fire incidents from community volunteer groups Motivation of volunteer groups

24 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

25 CONCLUSION The VRA experience has highlighted the need for participation of local people and consultation in designing the water resource management and protection projects The positive and negative impacts of each project could be the subject of discussion at another forum

26 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Questions & Answers