Africa / problems

M. Gerald Doucet [via email]

Secrétaire Général, Conseil Mondial de l'Energie

Chèr M. Gerald Doucet,

Thanks to an anonymous source, new data on Lake Victoria and its outflow management has become available since the original report. The data consists of observed daily lake levels, associated agreed curve discharges and actual Nalubaale and Kiira Dam releases for September 2004 to the beginning of March 2006, as reported by Eskom Uganda Ltd.

The World Bank’s Failed Efforts to Restore Lives and Livelihoods of Dam-Affected People in Lesotho

While the Lesotho Highlands Water Project increased the fortunes of the nation’s elite, the majority of Lesotho's citizens were not able to cash in on the LHWP. In total, approximately 1.5 percent of Lesotho’s citizenry is directly affected by the project. It weakened local economies and severely strained the social fabric of nearby villages. Despite a long-term compensation program, huge amounts of resources devoted to “rural development,” and many good intentions, the welfare of affected people has been compromised – perhaps irrevocably.

World Rivers Review, V20 N2, p. 6-7

Grandiose plans are being made to develop the world’s largest hydropower project in one of the most politically volatile and corruption–plagued areas of Africa. In February, Reuel Khoza, the chairman of South Africa–based electricity provider Eskom, announced plans to develop the massive Grand Inga hydropower project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).