Ivory Coast Water Resource Points

The geography of Cote d’Ivoire consists of a large plateau tilting slowly down towards the Gulf. This allows the four major rivers running north to south, the Cavally, Sassandra, Bandama, and Comoe, to drain into the ocean and also opens them up to potential hydroelectric power production. Numerous smaller tributaries connect to the larger rivers, offering potential hydroelectric sites as well. Cote d’Ivoire‘s first hydroelectric power plant was the Ayme I dam constructed along the Bia River in 1959. Since then, concerted effort towards developing hydropower has resulted in 50 percent of all electricity demand (in 2009) being met through hydroelectric power. Unfortunately many of the dams are running below capacity due to their age. Currently, 607 MW are provided by six hydroelectric dams in the country. The construction of hydroelectric power allowed for the development of inland fisheries in the reservoirs of the larger dams as well. Smaller dams are utilized for irrigation and water supply. Ayme I has a 19,2000 kW capacity and Ayme II was completed on the Bia River in 1964 to further increase hydroelectric power in the region. The Kossou hydroelectric plant along the Bandama River has a storage capacity of 28 billion cubic meters, making it the sixth largest dam in Africa. The push for hydroelectric power as well as meeting water supply needs for irrigation and drinking supplies has led to hydroelectric projects at Taabo on the Bandama River and Buyo on the Sassandra River. The Soubre dam, scheduled to be complete around 2015-2016, will increase the country’s total hydroelectric capacity by 275 MW. ISO3 - International Organization for Standardization 3-digit country code ADM0_NAME - Administration level zero identification / name NAME - Name of the dam CITY - Nearest city location RIVER - Name of the river on which the dam is located MAJ_BASIN - Name of sub-watershed in which dam resides SUB_BASIN - Name of major watershed in which dam resides YEAR - Last year dam was completed or improved HEIGHT - Height of dam in meters AREA - Surface area of reservoir in thousands of square meters IRRIGATION - Dam is used for irrigation (Y/N) SUPPLY - Dam is used for water supply (Y/N) ELECT - Dam is used for hydroelectricity generation (Y/N) SPA_ACC - Spatial accuracy of site location (1- high, 2 – medium, 3 – low) SOURCE_DT - Primary source creation date SOURCE - Primary source SOURCE2_DT - Secondary source creation date SOURCE2 - Secondary source