Cohora Bassa Dam Case Study

Cohora Bassa Dam Case Study

1. On the Zambizie River, Mozambique

   • 52% below poverty line
   • Low life expectancy (52 years)

2. The original plan for the dam

   • Generate HEP for rural areas of Mozambique
   • Sell excess generated power
   • A source of sustainable and renewable energy
   • Reduce risk of occasional flooding
     • In 1978 flood, 45 people died, 100,000 displaced, $62mil of damage

3. TECHNOCENTRIC AND TOP DOWN

   • No local community involvement, all decisions made by governments (mainly Portugal)

4. Mozambique elisted S.Africa to build the complicated transmission system of part of the dam, as well as a lot of the whole dam itself

   • On condition that it supplied S.Africa with energy

5. Funded by Portugal through BILATERAL AID

   • Portugal had to own 82% of the dam
     • (Portugal made most of the profits)
     • in 1975 Portugal sold Mozambique back the majority of the dam, but keeping 15%
       • Made $2.2 billion from this sale

6. Success?

   • Due to climate (drought) there are high levels of evaporation in the reservoir giving high levels of salinity
     • Led to a decline in the Shrimp industry
       • However other fisheries developed, as large colonies of Kapenta fish thrive behind the dam
         • 10,000 tonnes as of 2003
   • A flood in 2013 killed 73 and displaced 10,000
   • Lack of fine alluvium deposits further downstream as blocked by dams
     • Less fertile soils impacting on farmers and food supply
   • Rare species of Bull Shark trapped behind dam in high salinity conditions
   • Civil war and insurgent attacks delayed the building of the dam
     • Estimated to have cost $3.8billion
   • Due to slow river velocity and low levels of rainfall the dam only provides 1% of its energy to rural areas
   • Most of the energy produced was sold to S.Africa to aid in its development, specifically during the 2010 world cup