Hydroelectric power

This independent technical review assesses the "Strategic environmental assessment report for the proposed Rufiji hydropower project", dated April 2019, that relates to the planned Rufiji River Hydropower Project (RRHP). The RRHP comprises a 130m high dam on the Rufiji river at Stiegler's Gorge, creation of a 100km long, c.914km squared reservoir plus power plant, a transmission line, workers camps and access roads, all of which will be within the Selous Game Reserve, a natural World Heritage site.

It is generally accepted that human emissions of greenhouse gases upset the thermal balance of earth-atmosphere system and ultimately lead to global climate changes. The extent of the changes will depend on future emissions of greenhouse gases and will vary between the Earth's different regions. But a central estimate for the Nordic region is that, by 2100, the temperature will have increased by about 3 degrees C, average rainfall will be 10% higher and the sea level may have raised 40cm.

The first part of this report presents a general review and collection of case-studies on the impacts of water infrastructure on World Heritage areas world-wide. Analysing case studies from all continents, the report comes to the conclusion that the values of river ecosystems, although widely recognized by science and indigenous cultures alike, so far have not been adequately taken into account during implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

This rapid technical review assesses the “Updated Environmental Impact Assessment Report for 2100 MW Power Generation from the Rufiji Hydropower Project in Selous Game Reserve, Pwani and Morogoro regions, Tanzania” of 18 October 2018 that relates to a planned hydropower project to be built at Stiegler’s Gorge in the north of Selous Game Reserve. The project will involve construction of a 130m high dam on the Rufiji river, creation of a 100km long, c.914km2 reservoir plus a power plant, a transmission line, workers camps and access roads. The c.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a range of information which may be useful during dialogue to establish appropriate river flow regimes in the Sekong River in Viet Nam, Lao PDR and Cambodia when large hydropower projects are constructed and operated. It is designed to provide baseline or background information to assist in the process. The first part of the sourcebook starts by putting the Sekong River into context as one of the most significant large tributaries of the Mekong, with some information on the basic hydrology of the Sekong provided.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a range of information which may be useful during dialogue to establish appropriate river flow regimes in the Sekong River in Viet Nam, Lao PDR and Cambodia when large hydropower projects are constructed and operated. It is designed to provide baseline or background information to assist in the process. The first part of the sourcebook starts by putting the Sekong River into context as one of the most significant large tributaries of the Mekong, with some information on the basic hydrology of the Sekong provided.