Grand Inga dam

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The Grand Inga project is the largest hydroelectric project ever built to harness Sub-Saharan waters and provide electricity to the continent. Butwill the plans finally get going (the project was first conceived in 1970s)? And what will be the impacts? http://bit.ly/111C7eV

2 Answers

  1. I share your concerns,particulalry with regards to the large operation and maintenance costs. In addition, such projects require a large coordination effort and a number of thorough assessment of the impacts. Also the mitigation measures to negative impacts are often not taken into enough consideation, which might indeed lead to social unrest. On the other side, several dams can have positive transboundary impacts and promote cooperation. The recent Rusumo Falls project, for example, seems to go into this direction (note: it is by no means a mega-project such as the Inga): http://bit.ly/148ToOy

  2. Any project like this will have an impact - the larger the project the greater the impact. There is a very large energy "thirst" in sub-Saharan Africa. My dilemma with these mega projects in unstable areas is that there will be an immense operation and maintenance burden on the government. Will they be able to sustain the interest that is needed to keep the infrastructure going and maintained as it should be? What will the impact be of the instability in the country? Will it be a target for forces unfriendly to the government for instance?