Hi Folks,
Here is an URL to a report "Saline intrusion in Gambia River after dam
construction" as a followup to the mail Dr. Malanding Jaiteh sent to the L
last May.

http://home.student.utwente.nl/c.p.m.vanrens/Saline%20intrusion%20in%
20Gambia%20River%20after%20dam%20construction.pdf

Momodou Camara


On Tue, 17 May 2005 16:03:47 -0400, Malanding Jaiteh
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Folks,
>This is an article from Gambia Daily News.  Since I do not have access
>to the quoted report I cannot but ask more questions.
> It said that
>
>" creating a 181 km2 reservoir upstream of the River Gambia will reduce
>the water level downstream, and the resulting low flows "will keep the
>saline wedge of the Gambian estuary some 100 km downstream of its usual
>mean location. It will thus make more than 7,000 ha of arable land (in
>The Gambia) free from salty water.""
>
>What proportion of total flow that enters the Gambia through Koina would
>remain in the 181km2 reservoir?
>
>How much will water levels drop?
>
>What does lowering of water level mean for the salt concentration levels
>in those areas that will remain salty (mangroves)?
>
><>Given that mangroves and other wetlands are the spawning and nursery
>grounds for many of our deep sea fish, shellfish, bird species how would
>lowering the water level affect their ability to support those functions?
>
>Would freeing from salty water mean effectively becoming drylands? If so
>how arable will the salt free areas become?
>
>I am sure few would doubt some of the benefits of hydropower but we who
>live downstream must not be lose sight of some of the negative and often
>irreversible effects. What is frightening is that onces the dams are
>built we would have no choice to but to live the consequences even if
>that means, no fish or no drinking water for western Gambia! Perhaps
>then, and only then will we go for another loan to bring down the dams!
>Some wise guy once said: "the road to hell is paved with good
>intentions". I just hope and pray that this is not one of those.
>
>Malanding Jaiteh
>
>
>OMVG Hydropower Project Could Be Commissioned By 2010
>
>
>
>Gambia Daily News
><http://allafrica.com/publishers.html?passed_name=Gambia%20Daily%
20News&passed_location=Banjul>
>(Banjul)
>
>May 16, 2005
>Posted to the web May 17, 2005
>
>THE 10th ordinary session of the OMVG conference of heads of state and
>government, meeting in Guinea Bissau on May 9, in their final
>communique, noted results obtained in the implementation of the
>organisation's development programme, such as "the effective start up of
>the natural resources development and management project".
>
>Also "the completion of the detailed design studies and the tenders for
>the hydro-electric development of Sambangalou and the interconnection of
>the electrical networks of member countries".
>
>
>Groupement Coyne et Bellier - Tecsult - Coba (COTECO) a consortium of
>consulting engineers contracted by OMVG the Gambia river basin
>development organisation had in 2003 confirmed the technical, economic
>and environmental feasibility of its projects.
>
>The consortium was contracted, in the context of the implementation of
>its electric power development programme, to perform the feasibility
>studies of the Sambagalou hydropower project on the River Gambia, and of
>the interconnection line between the power grids of the four OMVG member
>states.
>
>"The results of the studies are quite positive", the consultants
>announced in 2003, on the studies carried out from February 2002 to July
>2003, with funding from the African Development Bank.
>
>"The objective of the study of these projects is to provide OMVG member
>states with a programme of development of power production and transport
>(transmission?) means, based on the principle of an increased regional
>integration of investments in hydropower, to reach the least cost means
>of meeting the power and energy demand".
>
>The feasibility study report mentioned "the environmental and
>socio-economic impacts of the Sambangalou hydropower project and
>possible mitigation measures", and revealed that creating a 181 km2
>reservoir upstream of the River Gambia will reduce the water level
>downstream, and the resulting low flows "will keep the saline wedge of
>the Gambian estuary some 100 km downstream of its usual mean location.
>It will thus make more than 7,000 ha of arable land (in The Gambia) free
>from salty water."
>
>"Among the benefits of the project, the average yearly production of 400
>GWh is the first one. The long life duration of the dam, and the
>renewable aspect of the hydroelectric energy, can be considered as a
>long-term development factor of the beneficiary countries.
>
>"Choosing this kind of energy, rather than the thermal one, will enable
>them to avoid emission of about 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
>equivalent each yearî, according to the consultants.
>
>As regards the economic and financial evaluation, the Sambangalou
>hydropower project will cost a total of 228 million euros, and the OMVG
>interconnection 229 million euros.
>
>The implementation programme proposes that the Sambangalou hydropower
>project could be implemented from 2006 to 2009, and commissioned at the
>beginning of 2010, "assuming no delay in the launching of the detail
>design study, of the regulatory environmental impact assessment and of
>the preparatory works (access roads and Kedogou bridge)."
>
>"The economic analysis has shown that the earlier the projects will be
>commissioned, the larger the economic benefits will be for the OMVG
>member states", they further reported.
>
>At the end of the OMVG leaders' meeting in Bissau this week, President
>Henrique Pereira Rosa of Guinea Bissau was appointed chairperson of the
>organisation for the two-year period 2005-2007, Bissau's minister of
>energy and natural resources was appointed chairperson of the council of
>ministers for the same period.
>
>The meeting also appointed Justino Vieira former director of studies,
>planning and infrastructure of the OMVG to the post of executive
>director of the organisation.
>
>President Yahya Jammeh in remarks delivered at the one-day meeting
>pointed out that, at inception, the principal objective of the OMVG was
>to promote economic integration with a view to improve the standard of
>living of our people.
>
>Such a vision was commendable, and pertinent at a time when the all
>regions in the world are forming economic blocs to face the challenges
>of globalisation. "It is my strong belief that full socio-economic
>integration cannot be achieved if we remain far apart in terms of our
>policy objectives," he declared.
>
>The Gambia government, he said, has not lost sight of the significance
>of regional and sub regional cooperation in the energy sector as a means
>of bringing energy self-sufficiency close to its people. "The Gambia,
>therefore, remains committed to the development of the hydropower
>potentials of the river Gambia and the inter-connection of the electric
>transmission systems in the four member countries, under the aegis of
>the OMVG".
>
>President Jammeh noted that, compared to similar organisations, the
>physical achievements of the OMVG since its creations in 1978 has been
>"quite modest."
>
>The development scenario anticipated then included hydroelectric power
>generation, increased agricultural production and other natural
>resources management programmes. However, until recently, most of the
>activities of the organisation were basically concentrated on the
>conduct of studies and investigations in order to batter plan the
>utilisation of the resources of the Gambia River basin.
>
>Such work is commendable, but time has come to translate such effort
>into concrete and more tangible benefits for our people, to reward them
>for the many years of waiting, he added.
>
>The president spoke of the millions of people who derive their
>sustenance and livelihood from the resources of the Gambia, the
>Kayanga/Geba and Koliba/Corubal river basins.
>
>He noted that the summit meeting was preceded by a meeting of the
>council of ministers, which reviewed the work of the secretariat during
>the past years. The summit received the report of the council.
>
>"From this report, and with the inception of the energy and the natural
>resources development and management projects, we may perhaps be finally
>seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. These projects have
>invigorated the hopes of our peoples as they attempt to address their
>basic needs."
>
>The Gambian leader reminded the summit that the Gambia River like many
>other shared basins serves as a vital link between our nations.
>
>Integrated development of this basin, especially its energy potentials
>and natural resources, is crucial to the socio-economic development of
>our respective countries.
>
>"For our four countries, the Gambia River could be a source of our
>development. Let us use it as a source and tool for sustainable
>development of the sub region. Let us employ it as a vehicle that will
>deliver us into a peaceful and stable sub region. "Collaboration and
>cooperation between our countries in the development of the basin has
>been and should continue to be high in our national development plans
>and programmes".
>
>In his speech, President Jammeh noted that basic outstanding issues
>before the organisation include regularising the integration of the
>Kaleta into the OMVG framework, which should "be quickly settled." Also
>the long delay in finalising the draft convention on the legal status of
>the Kayanga/Geba and Koliba/Corubal river basins.At the conclusion of
>their summit conference held in Bissau on Monday, OMVG leaders decided
>to hold their 11th ordinary session in Banjul in 2007
>

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