Gribo–Popoli Hydroelectric Power Station

The Gribo–Popoli Power Station, also Gribo Popoli Power Station, is a hydroelectric power station under construction across the Sassandra River, in Ivory Coast. This renewable energy power station is owned and is under development by the Government of Ivory Coast, through its wholly owned subsidiary, CI-Energies, the national electricity utility parastatal company.[1]

Gribo–Popoli Dam
Gribo–Popoli Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Ivory Coast
Gribo–Popoli Hydroelectric Power Station
Location of Gribo–Popoli Dam
Placement on map is approximate
Gribo–Popoli Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Africa
Gribo–Popoli Hydroelectric Power Station
Gribo–Popoli Hydroelectric Power Station (Africa)
Gribo–Popoli Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Earth
Gribo–Popoli Hydroelectric Power Station
Gribo–Popoli Hydroelectric Power Station (Earth)
LocationIvory Coast
Coordinates05°41′53″N 06°34′17″W / 5.69806°N 6.57139°W / 5.69806; -6.57139
Construction began2021
Opening date2024 Expected
Construction costUS$308 million
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam
ImpoundsSassandra River
Power Station
Commission date2024 Expected
Installed capacity112 MW (150,000 hp)
Annual generation580 GWh

With partial funding from the Exim Bank of China, the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to Sinohydro, the Chinese hydropower engineering and construction company. CI-Energies is the expected off-taker of the energy generated here. Construction is reported to have started in 2021, with commissioning anticipated in 2024.[2]

Location

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The power station lies across the Sassandra River, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) downstream of Soubré Hydroelectric Power Station, outside the city of Soubré.[3] Soubré is located in the Soubré Department of the Nawa Region in the Bas-Sassandra District, in southwestern Ivory Coast. This is approximately 366 kilometres (227 mi), by road, northwest of Abidjan, the financial capital and largest city in the country.[4]

Overview

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This power station is one of three hydroelectric power stations on the Sassandra River, downstream of the Soubré Hydroelectric Power Station. These three dams, when completed, are expected to add a total of 508 MW to the national generation capacity, according to the Ivorian authorities. The dams are Gribo-Popoli HPP: 112 megawatts, Boutoubré HPP: 150 megawatts and Louga HPP: 246 megawatts.[5]

The work at this site includes: (a) building an earth filled dam measuring 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) in length (b) six spillway gates (c) an above-ground powerhouse with a total installed capacity of 112 MW (d) a 225kiloVolt switchyard (e) two 8 kilometres (5 mi) overhead (single circuit) high voltage evacuation transmission lines connecting this power station to the 225kV SoubréSan Pedro high voltage power line (f) 23 kilometres (14 mi) of permanent access roads.[6]

Construction costs and funding

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The estimated cost for the dam and power plant is reported as US$308 million. The Exim Bank of China has lent US$287 million, with the balance contributed by the Ivorian government as equity investment. The table below lays out this information in tabular form.[2]

Sources of Funding of Gribo-Popoli Hydropower Station
Rank Funding Source Amount (USD) Percentage Notes
1 Exim Bank of China
287.0
93.2
[2]
2 Government of Ivory Coast
21.0
6.8
[2]
Total
308
100.0
[2]

Other considerations

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This power station will increase the national generation capacity by 112 MW of clean energy and will help to propel the county towards 6 Gigawatts of installed capacity by 2030, that the Ivorian government is aiming at.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Enerdata (7 November 2017). "Sinohydro starts building 112 MW hydropower project in Ivory Coast". Enerdata.com. Grenoble, France. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Dominic Mandela (15 August 2021). "Ivory Coast to receive US $569m for water and electricity projects". Construction Review Online. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. ^ Xinhua (3 November 2017). "Cote d'Ivoire inaugurates Chinese-built biggest hydropower dam". ChinaDaily.com. Beijing, China. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Road Distance Between Soubré, Ivory Coast And Abidjan, Ivory Coast With Map" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  5. ^ Ecofin Agency (2018). "Ivory Cost: Sinohydro Will Build Gribo-Popoli Dam" (CAC-International Quoting Ecofin Agency). CAC-International.com. Douala, Cameroon. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  6. ^ Otec Engineering (2018). "Hydroelectric Project of Gribo Popoli - 112MW". Otec-Engineering.com. Beijing China. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
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