The Bottom Of Cards - The hydros dams in Turkey and Niger / hydro dams in Turkey and Niger

"Charting the Map" Presented by Jean-Christophe Victor Hydroelectric dams in Turkey and Niger Today I'm going to talk about hydroelectric dams. There are about 40,000 worldwide. Their numbers will increase as demand for energy increases since they're the main producer of electricity. But there are environmental downsides to having them. We'll take two cases into consideration: One in West Africa and the other in the Middle East. Main sources of electricity in the world today include carbon, which produces 40% of the world's electricity, followed by natural gas, hydro energy, nuclear, and oil. 2/3 of energy produced in the world come from fossil fuels. Which we know produces a large amount of polluting emissions. Accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima show the limits of nuclear energy production. Hydro energy seems to have become a principal source of renewable electricity, superseding that of wind turbines, biomass, geothermal energy, and solar energy. Hydroelectric dams fill an essential need, but they have a negative impact on ecosystems and local populations. We're going to look at two specific examples: First in Turkey, then in Niger. Let's start with Turkey. The Ilisu Dam Project on the Tigris River in east Turkey is very important and very controversial. It will be operational in 2016. The reservoir is 10 billion cubic meters, making it the country's second largest dam, after the Ataturk Dam on the Euphrates River. It will be connected to a central station, and will become the fourth largest station in the country, after Ataturk Dam, Karakaya, and Keban. The cost of the central station has climbed to more than 1 billion Euros, and will produce around 2% of Turkey's electricity. Ilisu Dam is considered the jewel of the GAP Project. The GAP is the Southeastern Anatolia Project. Look at this map of eastern Turkey. Ten dams have already been built under the GAP. It includes Ilisu along with 11 other projects. These 22 projects are meant to develop the eastern part of the country, notably that of the Kurdish region. Turkey wants to diversify its energy production because it relies on imported fossil fuels which means a high dependency on external suppliers. 92% of oil imports come from Iran and 98% of natural gas is imported from Russia. Turkey is a member of the Emerging Seven, that is, the seven emerging countries where their combined Gross Domestic Product will overtake that of the G7 between now and 2020. Turkey is turning to hydroelectric power to keep up with increasing energy demands. Turkey is the water tower of the Middle East. Let's switch maps. The Tigris River, upon which Ilisu Dam is built on, flows from the Taurus Mountains. It follows the Turkish-Syrian border, crosses through Iraq, unites with the Euphrates, and empties into the Persian Gulf. The Ilisu Dam could reduce the output of water from the Tigris River by 25% before it flows into Iraq. It could also dry up parts of the floodplains in the Mesopotamian region. This region has been hit by drought in the past several years. Other dams are planned for construction along the Tigris, including the Cizre along the Turkish-Iraqi border. Baghdad and Damascus accuse Ankara of appropriating the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates. For the first time in spring 2012, representatives from nine Iraqi tribes living along the Mesopotamian marshes went to Turkey to protest against the construction of the dam. They signed the Tigris Declaration and asked the UN to add the issue to their agenda. For these people, the consequences of the Ilisu Dam hasn't been fully considered. There's also been debate about the dam in Turkey. Ilisu Dam will create an artificial lake of about 350 square kilometers. Which could lead to the displacement of 55 million people, the majority of whom are Kurds. The dam also threatens the historic city of Hasankeyt which is located 80 kilometers away. A city that welcomed two million tourists a year would become flooded. Mobilization against the project is very strong in Turkey. It brings together local populations, the national Kurdish movement, and several NGOs. At the international level, Stop Ilisu campaign denounces the project as a natural and cultural massacre. The World Bank published a report in 2008 estimating that the dam presented numerous negative consequences, inciting several European financial backers to withdraw support. Those who withdrew financial support include France's Societe Generale and Germany's Dekabank. The Turkish government has no plans to stop construction of the Ilisu Dam. They view the dam as a crucial step towards energy independence in a rapidly growing economy such as Turkey. Prime Minister Erdogan wants the dam to be completed as quickly as possible. The government has decided to finance the entire project. Turkish authorities have managed to come up with enough financial support, rejected World Bank environmental and economic terms, they're moving forward in opposition to public opinion, because Ilisu Dam is part of the country's national security projects. Let's leave Turkey and head to West Africa, specifically to Niger. We'll look at another hydroelectric dam construction project. However, this project is seen as a source of pride and national identity. Kandadji Dam is located on the Niger River and is located 200 kilometers from the Nigerien capital of Niamey. It will be operational in 2016. Plans for construction began as far back as the 1930s and it will be the country's first hydroelectric dam. It has a 1.5 billion cubic meter reservoir and is seven times smaller than Ilisu Dam. It will likewise be connected to a central station and is expected to cost between 450 and 500 million Euros. So why such a huge investment for Niger? Niamey wants to increase its electricity production in order to depend less on energy imports from Nigeria who furnishes 90% of their electricity needs. But also because the country's average output has decreased by 30% due to drought since the 1970s. All of which has created problems around water access and agricultural development. By managing the Niger River, Kandadji Dam will help towards developing 122,000 hectares of land, which would mitigate Niger's recurrent food insecurity. The dam would also provide access to potable water for an important part of the rural population. From the perspective of NGOs who are against the project, the dam threatens local fauna, such as the hippopotamus and manatee, who are the area's most prevalent animals. And it would also threaten the local population. Look at this satellite image. Here's where the dam is located. And here's an image of the future reservoir lake. The lake will displace 35,000 people who live in the area. The Haut Commissariat a l'Amenagement de la Vallee du Niger is planning to resettle the local inhabitants. There's also an environmental section within the project. The minimum flow level for the Niger River will be 120 cubic meters per second. This will help regulate the river's level during the dry season and reduce damage to the ecosystem. Because of strong social and environmental management, the Kandadji Dam Project has received little backlash. And there aren't any organized protest groups to fight against it. In 2013, the World Bank granted a new loan of 150 million Euros to Niger for construction of the hydroelectric station. The Kandadji Dam Project is considered to be a major public works program for Niger, but not only for Niger. Let's look at another map. The Kandadji hydroelectric station would allow Niger to export electricity to its neighboring countries who are members of a West African electricity exchange system. It's a special institution of the CEDEAO whose goal is to find solutions to electricity shortages in West Africa. With regional, national, and local cooperation, Kandadji Dam is a good example of development in a region where river basins are poorly exploited. What can we take from all of this? In these developing countries, water management is vital. These reservoirs guarantee a water supply during arid periods and drought. Also for irrigation, electricity production, domestic uses, and control of output and river levels. But the question remains: Is hydroelectricity really clean energy? The carbon level rises during construction of the dams. There's also bacterial activity occurring in the reservoirs due to decomposition of vegetation. It emits three types of gases: nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide. Turkey and Niger are examples of how difficult it is to reconcile development with environmental regulation and human rights. Bibliography If you're interested in following international protest against the Ilisu Dam, you can visit the website www.stopilisu.com. You can also read 'L'Annee Strategique 2013' regarding international issues. You can also check archives of our show online and visit our Facebook page.