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dam-l Ghana dam moves forward/LS


Contractors Sign Memo For Dam Construction
Panafrican News Agency
October 15, 1999
Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The Volta River Authority (VRA) and a consortium of
contractors on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding for the
development of the Bui Hydro Electric Project in the Bring Ahafo Region.
Gilbert O. Dokyi, Chief Executive, signed for VRA while David Meehan,
Project Director, signed for Brown and Root of the UK, leaders of the
consortium.
Other members of the consortium are Alstom Hydro Limited of the UK, Grupo
Dragados SA of Spain and Hyundai of South Korea.
Under the memorandum for the proposed 400-megawatt dam, 450 million dollars
will be spent for various studies, according to projections made in 1995.
It will cover a 20-month period during which a detailed review of
Environmental Impact Assessment and proposed mitigating measures against
the effects of damming the Black Volta at Bui will be undertaken.
There will also be technical drawings and designs of the Dam and power
plant, topographic and geo-technical studies, legal issues, development of
a business plan and financing agreements.
Within the same period, private sector as well as bilateral and
multilateral financing, will be sought for the implementation of the
project, which will start in May, 2001.
Dokyi said the project would be developed and financed on a
"Build-Own-Operate or Build-Own-Operate-and-Transfer" basis while a company
to be made up of VRA, members of the consortium and others will be set up
to develop and implement it.
He said during the period "extensive public consultation would be held with
the stakeholders, including district assemblies, NGOs, affected population
and the Department of Game and Wildlife to find acceptable solutions to
problems that may arise from the implementation of the project.
While creating jobs in the northern parts of the country, the project will
also provide resources to improve the protection and development of the Bui
National Park.
He said "it will also have multipurpose use such as eco- tourism, fisheries
and irrigation schemes for agriculture in the southern reaches of the Black
Volta."
Victor Selormey, Deputy Minister of Finance, said the Bui project is part
of Government's intention to increase power supply through a variety of
resources, including thermal generation.
Meehan said the success of the project would depend on the trust between
the executing parties, namely VRA and the consortium, and support from
financing institutions.

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      Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
        and Editor, World Rivers Review
           International Rivers Network
              1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
                  Tel. (510) 848 1155   Fax (510) 848 1008
                        http://www.irn.org
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