Grand Poubara Dam

The Grand Poubara Dam is a gravity dam on the Ogooué River, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Franceville in Gabon. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 160 megawatts (210,000 hp) power station.

Grand Poubara Dam
Location of Grand Poubara Dam in Gabon
CountryGabon
LocationFranceville, Haut-Ogooué Province
Coordinates1°46′22.67″S 13°33′4.18″E
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began2008
Opening date2013 (2013)
Owner(s)Ministry of Mining, Energy, Oil and Water Resources
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity, roller-compacted concrete
ImpoundsOgooué River
Height37 m (121 ft)
Grand Poubara Power Station
Coordinates1°45′47.20″S 13°32′40.05″E
Commission date2013
Turbines4 x 40 MW (54,000 hp) Francis-type
Installed capacity160 MW (210,000 hp)

History

The government of Gabon signed a $84 million loan with China in 2008 to finance the construction of the dam. The goal was to develop an alternative power source to the Kongou Falls Dam for the iron ore extraction sites also operated by the Chinese in Belinga.[1]

Construction on the project began in November 2008, the river was diverted in November 2010, and the power station was commissioned on 5 August 2013. The dam diverts the river around the Poubara Falls where four 40-megawatt (54,000 hp) Francis turbine-generators are powered. The majority of the dam and power station was funded by the Chinese government and the project was constructed by Sinohydro.[2][3][4]

Starting in 2015, the Grand Poubara Dam powers Moanda's Metallurgical Complex, the country's first manganese-processing plant.[5]

References
  1. African Dams Briefing 2015, Internationalrivers.org, 2015
  2. "Hydroelectric Power Plants in West Africa". IndustCards. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  3. "Gabon, Grand Poubara Hydropower Station". Sinohydro. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  4. "Gabon's 160-MW Grand Poubara hydroelectric plant enters full operation". Hydro World. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  5. Gabon engages in the local processing of manganese, Miningreview.com, 12 June 2015


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