No spillage of Bagre Dam this year – Burkinabe officials assure

The Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso would not be spilled this year due to the low level of the water.  The current level is two meters short of the 235 meters that have necessitated the annual spillage destroying properties downstream. The dam was constructed in 1992, operating on two turbines with a generation capacity of 16 megawatts. The decision not to spill was revealed when officials from NADMO, the World Food Program and Care International paid a working visit to the dam to have first hand information about the operations of SONABEL who are responsible for the Bagre Dam. The water level as at Tuesday September 19, 2017 was 233 meters. The annual spillage of excess water from the Bagre dam in Burkina Faso to the White and the Black Voltas in Ghana has led to the loss of lives and properties. Over the years, NADMO and other government agencies have put in place mechanisms to reduce and prevent the havoc caused by the spillage. For instance,  NADMO has instituted a project called “Operation thunderbolt” with three emergency centers in Walewale, Bolgatanga and Zebilla. Communities along the White and Black Voltas have however been sensitized on the dangers of the spillage. The Chief Service Production of Hydroelectric of Societe National Electricity of Burkina Faso (SONABEL), Emmanuel Dentounda said there is high collaboration and regular briefings between the Volta River Authority of Ghana and his outfit whenever there is going to be a spillage. He said the Burkina Faso government is looking for funds to construct another dam downstream to control the quantum of water that flows to Ghana. The Director General of NADMO, Nana Agyeman Prempeh, appealed to officials of SONABEL to always be in touch with NADMO frequently as they did with VRA to prepare them ahead of any spillage. By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu | TV3|editors.3news.com