400 MW BUI HYDROELECTRIC POWER PROJECT

Presentation By: Fred Oware

Chief Executive Officer (BPA)

History/Background
The Bui Hydroelectric Project was

conceived long ago after a British Geologist Mr. Albert Kitson, prospecting for gold discovered the gorge in the 1920s.
Successive

governments from Dr. Nkrumahs time till the turn of the 21st Century had made attempts in constructing the dam. 2005 the Government of Ghana secured funding from the Chinese Government to undertake the project.

In

History/Background
The 400 MW Bui Hydropower scheme has been considered to

be the most technically and economically attractive hydropower site in Ghana after the Akosombo and Kpong hydro power plants.
Consequently it has been the subject of many studies

including:
J.S. Zhuk Hydroprojeckt of the USSR in 1966

Snowy Mountains Eng. Corp (SMEC) of Australia in 1976

Coyne Et Bellier of France in 1995. Coyne Et Bellier updated its 1995 report in October 2006

Functional Arrangement for the implementation of the Bui HPP

Bui Power Authority are the Employers who represent the

Government of Ghana ensuring quality control under the EPC/Turnkey Project Agreement.
Construction

is being Corportation of China. Bellier of France.

undertaken

by

Sinohydro

Consultancy services are being provided by Coyne et

BUI POWER AUTHORITY

LEGAL STATUS
BPA was established by the BPA Act 2007, Act 740. Mission To build and operate a most efficient hydroelectric plant that will generate stable, continuous and reliable electricity at base price to spur industrial and agricultural revolution in Ghana impacting the lives of millions. Vision To adopt effective strategic management and maintenance practices which will yield the best results at the most competitive cost of generation and pricing of electricity.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND STAFFING

BUI POWER AUTHORITY

FUNCTIONS The immediate functions are to plan, execute and manage the Bui Hydroelectric Power Project which include:
Supervision of the dam construction, installation of the plants and other

infrastructure forming integral part of the project.

Generation of electrical power for general industrial and domestic use.

BUI POWER AUTHORITY

FUNCTIONS (contd.)
Construction of a transmission system linked to the national grid. Supply of electrical power to certified and licensed utility companies. Promotion of activities consistent with the provision of facilities for

multipurpose uses such as agro businesses, fisheries and tourism.

Features of the Power Project

The Bui HPP consists mainly of a Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) gravity dam, a spillway, power intakes and penstocks located within the concrete dam; a power house at the toe of the dam on the left bank, two rock filled saddle dams on the right bank and a switchyard. Power produced from the plant will be evacuated through the following 161kV

transmission lines from the Bui switchyard running 310 km:

Bui Teselima transmission lines: Teselima Sawla Teselima - Techiman Bui Kintampo transmission line and a new substation Kintampo Tamale Kintampo - Techiman

Bui Kenyase transmission line

Features of the Power Project (cont.)

The Project also envisages proper utilization of the acquired lands

and

the

lake

for

development

of

massive

agro

businesses, education, provision of safe drinking water and other social development agenda.

Project Characteristics
Construction of 1,000,000 m3 RCC gravity dam

Dam Height (108m), Crest Length (492.5m)

Installed capacity: 400MW (3no. 133MW Francis Turbine) Maximum and Minimum water head of 80m and 65m respectively

Active storage capacity of reservoir : 7.05x109 m3

Full supply level: 183.0 masl Minimum operating level: 168 masl

Reservoir area at maximum operating level: 444 km2

Reservoir area at minimum operating level: 296 km2 Two saddle dams

Key Milestones
Sod Cutting Ceremony Completed Field Investigations Completion of Preparatory Works

River Closure
Dam Foundation Excavation Commissioning of 1st Unit Completion and commissioning of project

August 2007 March 2008 December 2008 December 2008 March 2009 December 2011 December 2012

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

Funding
Hybrid credit facility comprising of a concessional loan and a buyers credit facility between GOG and EXIM Bank of China. Concessional loan Buyers Credit GOG Counterpart Funds Total Project Cost US$ 263.5 Million US$ 298.5 Million

US$ 562.0 Million

US$ 60.0 Million

US$ 622.0 Million

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

Bui Dam Site prior to construction

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION: FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION

Project Camp (inset- Employers Camp)

Completed Aggregate Processing and Batching Plant

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION: FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION

River Diversion Channel

Access road to dam abutment

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION
Right bank during first phase

Right bank after first phase

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION SECOND PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION- in progress

Dewatering of Dam area

Excavation of Dam Foundation

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION
Left bank before construction Left bank after preparatory works

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION Dewatering And Dredging Of Dam Foundation
Six downstream pumps for dewatering Dredging of the main dam area

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION
Preparation of RCC Batching and Crushing plants
Primary /middle screen Fixing of rebars at the semi-finished bin

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION
Preparation of RCC Batching and Crushing plants

Installation of parts of the primary screen plant

Installation of the feeder of the primary crusher

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION
Preparation of Aggregate Supply Plant

Fabrication and installation of Aggregate production plant

Installation of the re-grading plant

The Bui Hydro Electric Power Project

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION
Installation of fine crush plant Coarse sand treatment plant

Hon. Asiedu Nketia (Chairman of NDC) visits Bui Dam Site

Environmental/Social Issues on the Bui HPP

On the basis of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) carried out by ERM Consultants of the UK in October 2006, some of the key impacts are as follows:
Resettlement of about 1,700 people who reside within the project

area.
Permanent Land take (i.e. inundation of part of the Bui National

Park). It is estimated that about 444 km2 which is about 21% of Bui National Park.

Environmental/Social Issues on the Bui HPP

Key Impacts:
Loss of fauna and flora (gallery forest) which is a rare along the

banks of the river.

Social Impacts during the construction phase (influx of migrant

workers, including health, cultural differences, potential social tensions etc.)

Environmental/Social Issues on the Bui HPP

(contd.)

Key Impacts:
Need for the design of seasonal compensational water releases

during the period of impounding.

Increased hunting for displaced animals by local population.

Need to equip Game & Wildlife Department to create a safe haven for the animals; and therafter, monitoring and supervision of the Park.
Need to protect the hippopotamus population: Need to grow

Setaria and other plant species to increase fodder available for the hippopotamus.

Environmental/Social Issues on the Bui HPP

(contd.)

Key Impacts:
The expansion of the Bui National Park to make up for the

flooded area.
During the impoundment period of 2yrs there will be a loss of

inflow into the Volta Lake resulting in the loss of some 30 GWh of electricity per annum. This will be corrected after completion of the Dam and during operations.

Map indicating flooded area

Environmental/Social Issues on the Bui HPP

(contd.)

Mitigation Measures

Acquisition of land for afforestation to restore destroyed

endangered flora and fauna.

Payment of compensation for the lands and the destruction of

economic activities.
Consultation with Game and Wildlife still in progress for the

rescue of the hippopotamus in the Bui National Park.

Environmental/Social Issues on the Bui HPP

(contd.)

Mitigation Measures

Acquisition of speed boats to tour flooded area and rescue

wildlife during impoundment monitoring work.

and

also

for

continuous

Camps to be built along Lake to be used by the Game and

Wildlife officials to stem illegal developments along the Bui Lake.

Removal of trees located in reservoir area for safe navigation.

Resettlement of affected villages

Seven villages are to be physically resettled due to the Bui Dam

construction. Additionally the Bui Game and Wildlife camp would be resettled.
Four out of the seven villages have been resettled at the Jama

resettlement site, they are:

Agbegikuro and Lucene in the Bole District and Brewohodi and Dam Site villages in the Tain District.

Resettlement of affected villages (contd.)

Resettled Villages
No. Of Total Households population resettled

Villages to be Resettled
No. Of Households Community to be Total Population

Community

Brewohodi Dam site Agbekikuro Lucene

resettled
10 6 21 4 48 Dokokyina 36 Bui 107 Bator 26 Akanyakrom 62 40 31

156 295

432

Resettlement (contd.)

Old Residence

New Residence

Community water

Jama Resettlement Community

Fifty (50) housing units have been built at the Jama Resettlement Site. A housing unit is made up two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom.

Villager s preparing to move to the Resettlement community

Villagers already settled

Social Amenities for the Jama Resettlement Camp

Other facilities provided at the Jama resettlement site include: community center, a three classroom nursery block, solar powered lighting system, two hand pump boreholes and two 14 seater KVIP.
Nursery Community center

Social Amenities for the Jama Resettlement Camp

Solar powered lamp for Jama

Borehole for the resettlement site

Jama Resettlement Community

INTRACTIONS WITH THE JAMA RESETTLED COMMUNITY

BPA interacting with settlers at Jama resettlement camp

New Year party organized by BPA for pupils of Jama Resettlement Nursery School

Jama Resettlement Community

NURSERY PUPILS AT JAMA RESETTLEMENT SITE

Jama Resettlement Community

INTRACTIONS WITH THE JAMA RESETTLED COMMUNITY

BPA interacting with Bui Chief

BPA Officials addressing Bole District Assembly on the progress of Works

Jama Resettlement Community

RESETTLEMENT GRANT AND RESETTLEMENT MONTHLY ALLOWANCE

In recognition of the sacrifice being made by the affected communities,

each person in a household was given a sum of one hundred Ghana

Cedis (GH 100) as a resettlement grant.

Fifty Ghana Cedis (GH 50) as land development grant for the

clearing of 2 acres of farm land per household.

A monthly allowance of one hundred Ghana cedis (GH 100) is

paid to the head of each household for a period of one year.

Jama Resettlement Community

A farmer signing for his land development grant

Yam moulds for a farmer

Resettlement
Bui elders meet with CEO of BPA to help choose a resettlement site. Population census at Bator Akenyakrom community

Resettlement
Sensitization Exercise of remaining communities to be resettled

Dokokyina chief and elders

A sensitization meeting with Dokokyina elders

Social and Cultural Implication of Project on Resettled Community

Post-settlement trauma

Two year program has been drawn for easy transition of resettlers into new environs.
Chiefs will be mandated to be the custodians of farmlands for the

resettled communities.

Social and Cultural Implication of Project on Resettled Community

Preservation of cultural elements for resettled communities by

construction of palaces, community centers etc.

The Institute of Resettlement Studies from KNUST have prepared a

Needs Assessment report on livelihood assistance for settlers at Jama.

Auxiliary Projects
The Bui Project is designed primarily for hydropower generation, however it has potential for:

Irrigation for agricultural development An opportunity to develop a Model City (Bui City)

IRRIGATION
Though the Bui project is designed primarily for hydropower

generation it has irrigation potential of 30,000 ha for agricultural development.

This is to be the bedrock of massive mechanized agricultural

programming which involves

food and cash crops, animal husbandry and fisheries to feed the factories to be located in the proposed Bui

Special Economic Zone in order to attract investments into the area.

Areas envisaged for the irrigation project are New

Longoro, Asantekwa etc.

IRRIGATION
We are in serious discussions with reputable foreign and local

investors who are anxious to make massive investments in the area. There is the potential for a 15,000 ha sugar cane plantation to support the production of edible sugar, molasses, ethanol, and other derivatives of sugar.
We estimate creation of some 20,000 new job opportunities as a

result of the irrigation scheme.

IRRIGATION

Irrigation of over 30,000 hectres of land.

Overview of the Bui City

Bui Power Authority (BPA) has developed

the necessary programme to promote the development of a modern and model city Bui City, in addition to the construction of the 400MW Dam.
The

project expectation is to accommodate some 500,000 people in the medium term. 30,000 hectares of an irrigation project to offer sovereign lands for agro industries.

This is to be complemented with some

Bui City
BPA has arranged funding to

pay for the compensation for the acquired lands, provision of infrastructure and subsequent allotment to commercial and industrial investors. The total area is estimated to be 700km2.

The total cost of this project is estimated to be USD$ 350million which is made up as follows:

Bui City Project Cost

Activity Compensation for land Services Roads and bridges Water Sewerage Waste Electricity US $ 000 100,000 10,000 100,000 40,000 22,000 32,000 30,000 16,000 350,000

Engineering, Construction and

Administration. Grand Total

Prospects of the Bui City

The Bui City will attract investments which will create an

avenue for bridging the development disparity between the northern sector and southern sector of Ghana. This will be manifested in :

Job creation Development of transportation networks

Development of the Agricultural sector

Improvement of educational, health facilities etc. Significant contribution to GDP

Benefits of the Bui City

Tourist attraction centers

such as Amusement parks, the Hippo Sanctuary etc. which are integral parts of the Project will increase the tourism potential in Ghana.

Bui Airpark
The Bui Airpark which is an auxiliary project under the Bui City Project is to facilitate the transportation to the Project location and its environs.
Geographical Location of proposed Bui Airpark.

Construction of pillars - proposed Bui Airpark

Challenges
Communication: very few of the Chinese speak English Black flies nuisance and high incidence of malaria

Difficult living conditions

Lack of skilled labour within the Dam Site communities

Recommendations
Fulfilment of loan conditions by both Ministries of Energy and

Finance and Economic Planning in order to meet the targets of the Project.
Support from GOG to deal with the Black fly nuisance. GOG to support BPAs effort in the Irrigation and Bui City Projects to

diversify and improve the economies of the communities within both Northern and Brong Ahafo Regions.
GOG to support BPAs mission of ultimately producing hydropower at

competitive and cheaper cost.

Thank You
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