KAINJI DAM

KAINJI DAM

Kainji Dam, dam across the Niger River in western Nigeria. Construction
of the dam began in 1964 and was completed in 1968. The total cost was
estimated at $209 million, with one-quarter of this amount used to
resettle people displaced by the construction of the dam and its
reservoir, Kainji Lake. The dam is one of the longest dams in the world. It
extends for about 10 km (about 6 mi), including its saddle dam, which
closes off a tributary valley. Most of the structure is made from earth, but
the center section, housing the hydroelectric turbines, was built from
concrete. This section is 65 m (215 ft) high. The dam was designed to
have a generating capacity of 960,000 kilowatts; however, only 10 of
its 12 turbines have been installed, reducing the capacity to 800,000
kilowatts. The dam generates electricity for all the large cities in
Nigeria. Some of the electricity is sold to neighboring Niger. In addition,
occasional droughts have made the Niger's water flow unpredictable,
diminishing the dam's electrical output. The dam has a single-lock chamber
capable of lifting barges 49 m (160 ft). Kainji Lake measures about
135 km (about 84 mi) long and about 30 km (about 19 mi) at its widest
point, and supplies a local fishing industry.