Major Hydropower Projects of Africa

Africa is home to impressive hydropower projects including the Cahora Bassa Dam, Aswan High Dam, and Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. These projects demonstrate Africa's dedication to sustainable development and making the most of its natural resources, from the large reservoirs and outstanding power capacity to their considerable contributions to renewable energy.

Features of Major Hydropower Project of Africa

Here are the descriptions about major hydropower project of Africa −

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Power Project

The Grand Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia, formerly known as the Millennium Dam, has been under construction since 2011 and when finished would be the largest dam in Africa. The dam, which is situated on the Blue Nile in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region close to Ethiopia's border with Sudan, is expected to produce 6,450 MW annually. One of the biggest on the continent, the reservoir began to fill in July 2020 and can hold 63 billion m2 of water.

The dam will rank as the seventh largest hydroelectric power plant in the world once it begins producing power, which is anticipated to happen between June and August of 2021. The height of the dam's walls is 145 meters and length is 5,900 meters.

Aswan High Dam Power Project

The Aswan High Dam is the second largest dam on the continent and is situated close to the city of the same name in southern Egypt. The dam, which spans the Nile and is the largest embankment dam in the world, is 111 meters in height and 4,000 meters long. The dam's total generation capacity is 2,100 MW, which it uses to power twelve generators at a rate of 175 MW each.

Cahora Basa Dam Power Project

The Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique is the biggest hydropower facility in southern Africa and one of the two main dams on the Zambezi River. Five 415 MW turbines with a combined capacity of 2,070 MW are used to generate electricity. Through the Cahora Bassa high voltage direct current (HVDC) line system, which has two converter stations situated in Songo, Mozambique, and Apollo, South Africa, the majority of the energy produced by the Cahora Bassa Dam is exported to South Africa.

Gilgel Gibe Iii Dam Power Project

The Gilgel Gibe III Dam is a hydroelectric power plant and roller-compacted concrete dam situated southwest of Addis Abeba, the capital of Ethiopia. The Gibe III power station is a component of a series of dams that also includes the 184 MW Gibe I dam and the 420 MW Gibe II power station. The Gibe IV and Gibe V dams, with respective capacities of 1,472 MW and 560 MW, are now being considered for addition to the Gibe Cascade.

Future electricity produced by the facility, which is currently in the commissioning phase, is anticipated to be sent to Kenya (500 MW), with half of its capacity going to Ethiopia. Sudan and Djibouti each have 200 MW. Ethiopia has committed to obtaining 95% of its energy from hydropower as part of its current growth objectives.

Inga Dams Power Project

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has two single dams, the Inga 1 (351 MW) and Inga II (1,424 MW), that operate at a total capacity of 1,775 MW at the moment. The hydroelectric dams were constructed on one of the biggest waterfalls in the world, the Inga Falls, and today only operate at 50% of their capability. The Grand Inga project, which is anticipated to cost $80 billion and would create the largest power station in the world with a capacity of up to 70 GW, has attracted attention from countries and power firms all over Africa as a result of the dam's expansion.

The Kariba Dam Power Project

The largest man-made dam in the world, the Kariba dam is situated between Zimbabwe and Zambia and is 128 meters in height and 579 meters in length. The dam is currently undergoing expansion in order to boost its yield; it now has a total installed capacity of 1,626 MW. The dam's north and south banks are home to power plants that provide electricity for both Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Merowe Dam Power Project

The Merowe Dam in northern Sudan is the largest modern hydropower project in Africa by size, with a length of 7 km and a height of up to 67 m. The hydropower dam, which sits on the Nile, has 10 turbines, each having a combined output of 1,250 MW, each unit is capable of producing 125 MW.

Tekezé Dam Power Project

The Tekezé Dam in Ethiopia is the tallest dam on the continent, standing 188 meters high. One of the greatest public works projects in the nation, the $360 million dam is built on the Tekezé River, a tributary of the Nile. The powerhouse of the dam is made up of four 75 MW turbines that produce a combined 1,200 MW of electricity apiece.

Akosombo Dam Power Project

The Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam in southeast Ghana receives its energy from Lake Volta, the biggest man-made lake in the world with an area of 8,502km². It is situated at the base of Lake Volta. The power plant, which was initially built to supply electricity for the nation's aluminium industry, now has an installed capacity of 1,020 MW and distributes electricity to Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

Kainji Dam – 760 MW

The Kainji Dam, constructed in Nigeria on the Niger River, supplies energy to all of the major towns in this west African nation. Even though a dam with a 960 MW installed capacity was intended, only eight of the twelve proposed turbines have been constructed, bringing the plant's capacity down to 760 MW. One of the longest dams in the world is the 10-kilometre long Kainji Dam.

List of Major Hydropower Project of Africa

Here's a table of major hydropower projects in Africa, along with their location and power capacity −

Hydropower Project	Location	Power Capacity (MW)
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)	Ethiopia	6,450
Aswan High Dam	Egypt	2,100
Cahora Bassa Dam	Mozambique	2,070
Gilgel Gibe III Dam	Ethiopia	1,870
Inga Dams	Democratic Republic of Congo	1,775
The Kariba Dam	Zimbabwe/Zambia	1,626
Merowe Dam	Merowe Dam	1,250
Tekezé Dam	Ethiopia	1,200
Akosombo Dam	Ghana	1,020
Kainji Dam	Nigeria	760

Conclusion

Major hydropower projects that are located in Africa are important for the continent's energy output. These initiatives, including the Cahora Bassa Dam, Aswan High Dam, and Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, make a substantial contribution to the production of clean and renewable electricity. These hydroelectric facilities, whose capacities range from 6,450 MW to 760 MW, use the force of rivers and dams to supply energy to a number of African nations.

The creation and expansion of these projects demonstrate the continent's dedication to renewable energy sources and its potential for continued progress in this area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the largest hydropower project in Africa?

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Ethiopia is the largest hydropower project in Africa, with a capacity of 6,450 MW.

Which country hosts the Aswan High Dam?

The Aswan High Dam is located in Egypt.

What is the capacity of the Cahora Bassa Dam?

The Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique has a power capacity of 2,070 MW.

Where is the Tekezé Dam situated?

The Tekezé Dam is located in Ethiopia and is the tallest dam in Africa, standing 188 meters high.

What is the power capacity of the Kariba Dam?

The Kariba Dam, shared between Zimbabwe and Zambia, has a power capacity of 1,626 MW.

Which country is the Kainji Dam located in?

The Kainji Dam is situated in Nigeria and has a power capacity of 760 MW.