Dam building has been part of a post-colonial dream to generate the energy African countries need to become industrialised states.
One of the largest planned is the Grand Inga in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). If it ever comes to pass, the dam will be the largest in the world, twice the size of the Three Gorges Dam in China. It will be the world’s largest engineering project, and would turn the DRC into the battery of central Africa, powering economies thousands of kilometres away.
Getting it built, however, will not be easy. Current cost estimates are around US$100 billion, according to the World Bank. The global financial institution is backing the project but last year suspended its support following a dispute with the DRC government. It is not clear when or if the bank will resume funding for the project.
Another backer is South Africa, which says it will buy power from the Grand Inga dam that lies about 5,000km from its border. If built, Grand Inga will pump out 40,000 megawatts, equal to South Africa’s entire current energy output.
Elsewhere, dams are appearing all over the energy-starved continent, often with Chinese support. Beijing is putting money into hydro projects in Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Cameroon, among others. The Chinese firm Sinohydro has offices in more than a dozen African countries where it is either planning or building dams.
Private money is also taking an interest. The Wall Street buyout firm Blackstone helped to finance the Bujagali dam in Uganda, a purely financially motivated investment. Since it opened in 2012 the dam has provided a good return on equity to the extent that Blackstone has pledged at least $3bn for further African energy projects.
But dependency on hydro for electricity has its drawbacks. Drought is a regular feature of the African landscape and can drastically reduce the amount of water available to keep turbines turning. Countries such as Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia have had to ration power as the rains stayed away over the past few years.
In addition, because droughts affects regions not just countries, neighbouring states dependent on hydro are unable to come to each others’ aid during drought.
Engineering can also be troublesome. The Kariba dam on the Zambezi River that divides Zimbabwe and Zambia, is in danger of collapse. The dam wall itself is about 600 metres long and 130 metres high, which is not particularly large. However, it holds back about 300km of lake water that is channelled through turbines that spews through night and day.
Kariba is vital to the energy grids of both countries but a design flaw has resulted in the plunging water digging out the earth at the base of the dam. Unchecked this will eventually undermine the foundations of the wall and cause it to collapse.
This could potentially destroy entire communities and kill tens of thousands of people downstream. The prospect is so alarming that an international effort is now underway to shore up the dam.
So while water is vital to life on the continent, mismanagement of the resource could prove fatal.
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Business Insights
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
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- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
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DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
MATCH INFO
New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)
England 155 (19.5 ovs)
New Zealand win by 21 runs
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
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