Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station

Coordinates: 12°23′57″N 12°11′48″W / 12.39917°N 12.19667°W / 12.39917; -12.19667
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Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station
Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Senegal
Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station
Map of Senegal showing the location of
Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station
Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Africa
Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station
Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station (Africa)
Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Earth
Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station
Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station (Earth)
CountrySenegal
LocationSambangalou, Kédougou Region
Coordinates12°23′57″N 12°11′48″W / 12.39917°N 12.19667°W / 12.39917; -12.19667
PurposePower
StatusProposed
Construction began2021 (Expected)
Opening date2025 (Expected)
Construction cost€388 million
Owner(s)Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River
Operator(s)Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsGambia River
Commission date2025 (expected)
Annual generation402 GWh

Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station is a hydropower plant under construction in Senegal, with planned capacity installation of 128 megawatts (172,000 hp) when completed.[1]

Location[edit]

The power station is located on Gambia River, in Kédougou Region, in southeastern Senegal, close to the border with Guinea. Its location is approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi), south of Kédougou, the regional capital.[2] This is in excess of 700 kilometres (435 mi), southeast of Dakar, the capital city of Senegal.[3] The approximate coordinates of Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station are: 12°23'57.0"N, 12°11'48.0"W (Latitude:12.399167; Longitude:-12.196667).[4]

Overview[edit]

This power station is a component of a multi-purpose project aimed at (a) providing electricity to the four countries of the Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River (OMVG), namely; Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and the Gambia, (b) supplying irrigation water to the farming communities in the region and (c) providing a source of drinking water to the residents of the area.[1]

The OMVG, which owns and is developing the tiered project and power station, selected a consortium of French and Austrian companies to execute the developments. The project will be developed in phases: Phase I involves the building of access roads, construction of staff houses for the construction crews and the erection of Kédougou Bridge. Phase 2 involves the construction of the 91 metres (299 ft) tall dam and the power station, creating a reservoir with a surface area of 181 square kilometres (70 sq mi), extending from Senegal to Guinea. Phase III involves the installation of the electro-mechanical equipment into the power station, capable of generating 128 megawatts of electricity.[1]

Construction on the project started in January 2023.[5]

Developers[edit]

The table below illustrates the composition of the consortium that was selected to develop the power station and related infrastructure, at a contract price of €388 million.[1][6]

Developers of Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station
Rank Name of Developer Domicile Percentage Ownership
1 Vinci Construction Grands Projects France 37.5
2 Vinci Construction Terrassement France 37.5
3 Andritz Hydro Germany Germany 12.5
3 Andritz Hydro Austria Austria 12.5
Total 100.0

Funding[edit]

The list of funders for this project include, but is not limited to, the following entities:[1]

Other considerations[edit]

Prior to the award of the construction contract in December 2020,  Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) studies were carried out and a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) was developed during the preceding 18 months. An estimated 1,000 jobs are expected to be created locally, during the construction period.[1]

The power generated at this power station will be evacuated via four 225kV high voltage power lines to locations in each of the four beneficiary countries, where the energy will be integrated into each of the national electricity grids.[1]

Construction is expected to commence during the first half of 2021, with commercial commissioning expected in 2025.[1] After the project has been concluded, the water treatment and distribution system, will be donated to the local community.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jean Marie Takouleu (11 December 2020). "Senegal: Vinci and Andritz win the contract to build the Sambangalou dam". Paris, France: Afrik21.africa. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  2. ^ AU-PIDA (17 March 2020). "Sambangalou Hydropower Plant". Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: African Union Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (AU-PIDA). Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  3. ^ Google (12 December 2020). "Road Distance Between Dakar, Senegal And Kédougou, Senegal" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  4. ^ Google (12 December 2020). "Location of Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Work starts on the Sambangalou hydroelectric dam". VINCI. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  6. ^ World Construction Network (11 December 2020). "Vinci consortium wins €388m contract to build Sambangalou dam in Senegal". United Kingdom: World Construction Network. Retrieved 12 December 2020.

External links[edit]