ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF MEROWE HYDROPOWER DAM, SUDAN

Abstract

Construction of large dams raises controversy as to which extent their negative impacts should be accepted compared to their positive outcomes. Moreover, the geopolitics of many river basins is such that international disputes are created and/or exacerbated by the construction of large dams. Evaluation studies therefore are vital in the decision making process if a specific large dam should be built or not and how the various side effects should be handled during construction and operation. Ahead of construction, the economic, social and environmental changes, both positive and negative, must be determined and contrasted. History of dam construction especially in Africa has shown that the performance and net effect of the dam could hardly be described as satisfactory. In some cases societies ended up worse off after the construction of a dam. It is therefore necessary to combine the technical and economic feasibility studies with the environmental and social impact assessments. The objective of the present study is to study the environmental impact assessment methodologies followed in water resources projects. Assessment of environmental impact due to project intervention in Merowe dam project , in the fourth cataract in the NILE river Sudan and evaluating the advantages vs. disadvantages of implementation of the dam Merowe dam (official name) is located at 18.40 N and 32.03 E. It is situated 350 km northwards the Sudanese capital Khartoum or 800 km downstream along the Nile The dam is constructed near the Nile River's 41h cataract close to the small village Hamdab, the reason why it is also referred to as Hamdab dam. The planned reservoir will be an, estimated 170 to 200 km long and will reach up to the island Mograt close to Abu Hamad. The lake will have a surface of 800 km2 and an average depth of 26m. The resulting impoundment volume is 12.5 km3, which equals to 20% of the Nile's annual flow, Its dimensions make it the largest contemporary hydropower project in Africa. The retained lake will submerge the fourth cataract and will inundate irrigated land as well as farmland used for flood recession agriculture 55.000 to 70.000 people are currently resettled into new areas. Evaluation is is being attempted using different methodologies to assess both ecological and socio economic aspects.