Bui Dam
The Bui Dam is a 400-megawatt (540,000 hp) hydroelectric project in Ghana. It is built on the Black Volta river at the Bui Gorge, at the southern end of Bui National Park. The project was a collaboration between the government of Ghana and Sino Hydro, a Chinese construction company. Construction on the main dam began in December 2009. Its first generator was commissioned on 3 May 2013, and the dam was inaugurated in December of the same year.
| Bui Dam | |
|---|---|
Dam under construction in 2011 | |
Location of Bui Dam in Ghana | |
| Country | Ghana |
| Location | On the border of the Savannah Region and the Bono Region |
| Coordinates | 8°16′42″N 2°14′9″W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | Preparatory: January 2008 Main dam: December 2009 |
| Opening date | 2013 |
| Construction cost | US$622 million |
| Owner(s) | Bui Power Authority |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity, roller-compacted concrete |
| Impounds | Black Volta River |
| Height (foundation) | 108 m (354 ft) |
| Height (thalweg) | 90 m (300 ft) |
| Length | 492.5 m (1,616 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 185 m (607 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Dam volume | 1,000,000 m3 (35,000,000 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Emergency, five gate-controlled |
| Spillway capacity | 10,450 m3/s (369,000 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Bui Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 12,570,000,000 m3 (10,190,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Active capacity | 7,720,000,000 m3 (6,260,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Surface area | Minimum level: 288 km2 (111 sq mi) Maximum level: 444 km2 (171 sq mi) |
| Maximum length | 40 km (25 mi) avg. |
| Maximum water depth | 88 m (289 ft) |
| Normal elevation | Minimum level: 167 m (548 ft) Maximum level: 183 m (600 ft) |
| Power Station | |
| Commission date | 2013 |
| Turbines | 3 x 133 MW (178,000 hp) Francis turbines |
| Installed capacity | 400 MW (540,000 hp) |
| Website www | |
Bui is the second largest hydroelectric generating plant in the country after the Akosombo Dam. The reservoir flooded about 20% of the Bui National Park and impacted the habitats for the rare black hippopotamus as well as a large number of wildlife species. It required the resettlement of 1,216 people, and affected many more.