Republic of Sudan

Heightening of Roseires Dam
Loan No: 521 Interest Rate: 3.0 %
Beneficiary: Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources, andNational Electricity Corporation Grace Period: 6 years
Project Cost: KD 142.3 million Maturity: 25 years
Amount of Loan: KD 58.0 million Repayment: 39 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: - First Installment: 6 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2008-01-06 Date of Loan Effectiveness: 2008-08-04

Objectives:

The project aims at improving the regulation of the Blue Nile River water through the increase of the storage capacity of the Roseires dam by approximately 4.4 billion m3, and using the additional water to intensify agriculture in 4 million acres (1.7 million hectars) of irrigated land from Roseires and Sennar dams, as well as increasing annual hydropower production by 565 GWH.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2012, consists of heightening the existing Roseires dam by 10 m to raise the reservoir normal water level from 480 to 490 m above sea level, and to increase the crest length of the dam from 13.5 to 25 km, in order to increase the design storage capacity of the dam from 3 billion m3 to 7.4 billion m3. The dam heightening includes the following major works:

  1. Civil Works: This includes the following:
    1. Heightening of Concrete Dam: This includes concrete works and all complementary works to raise the concrete dam crest by constructing a 4 m wide and 10 m high gravity wall to increase the height of the concrete dam from 68 to 78 m, as well as heightening the concrete buttresses and increasing their length by 7 meter and their thickness from 3 to 5 m.
    2. Complete Heightening of Fill Dam: This includes excavation, fill, and all complementary works necessary to raise approximately 4 km of the right fill dam by 10 m, and increasing its length by 4.5 km. It also includes heightening of approximately 8.5 km of the left fill dam by 10 m and increasing its length by 7 km. The total length of the fill dam crest, after heightening, will be 24 km and its width 7 to 10 m.
  2. Hydro-Mechanical and Electrical Works: This includes all works necessary for rehabilitation of control, emergency gates as well as cranes and hydraulic hoists in the water control structures located within the dam. It also includes rehabilitation and relocation of all hydraulic equipment for the operation of the gates from its present location to the new location after heightening the dam, as well as the rehabilitation of the deep sluices along with all complementary electrical works.
  3. Technical Services: This includes the consultancy services required to review previous studies and designs, and to assist in prequalification of contractors and bidding of construction tenders, as well as construction supervision.
  4. Land Expropriation and Resettlement: This includes land acquisition, compensation for properties, and resettlement of the inhabitants affected by the project.
  5. Project Management: This includes the establishment of a project management unit, within the Dams Implementation Unit, which will administer the implementation of the project.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 40.8% of the total project cost. The Islamic Development Bank, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the Saudi Fund for Development will contribute to the financing of the project with loans equivalent to KD 21.6 million, KD 8.1 million, KD 6.8 million and KD 10.8 million, respectively. The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development will provide a loan of KD 15.0 million. The Government of Sudan will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.