The Bui Power Authority (BPA) is to carry out full loading test for the spillway gates of the Bui Dam this week to verify the adequacy of the critical safety of the dam.
The exercise would be used to assess the effects of such emergency water discharge on the dam.
The External and Community Relations Manager of the Bui Power Authority, Mr Salifu Wumbilla, explained to the Daily Graphic that in view of the inadequate inflows into the Bui reservoir at the time of taking-over the project, the BPA and the EPC Contractors agreed to put on hold the full load testing of the spillway.
He said the parties also agreed that those tests would be conducted when the reservoir had reached the appropriate levels.
The manager further explained that at the end of the 2015 inflow season, the Bui reservoir had for the first time since impoundment reached an acceptable level for the conduct of the deferred tests.
Accordingly, he said the authority intended to carry out testing of the spillway gates between December 14 and 16.
Effect
Mr Wumbilla said the water to be discharged during the test was expected to remain below the river levels normally experienced in the rainy season prior to the construction of the dam, “as such, we do not expect any loss of life or property.”
Nevertheless, he said the BPA was embarking on sensitisation campaign of all communities and areas downstream from the Bui Dam to Buipe.
According to Mr Wumbilla, the BPA had been working closely with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the district and municipal assemblies, as well as the security agencies in the sensitisation exercise.
Akosombo dam
Mr Wumbilla said the expected water to be discharged from the dam would not have any significant effect on the accumulated inflows for the operation of the Bui Generating Station next year.
“We also assure the general public that all water discharged from the Bui Dam will flow into the Volta Lake to enhance power generation at Akosombo, as well as the Kpong Generating Stations”, he indicated.
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