Hydropower plants can control River Nile floods

The Nile River floods are causing unprecedented suffering on the citizens especially those occupying the low land areas. According to the Cordaid organisation over one million people in South Sudan have been affected by the floods. In Jonglei alone, which is the worst-affected state, an estimated 400, 000 people have been displaced.

Recently, the government said eight out of the 10 states of South Sudan have been affected by the floods. Therefore, it is time for the government now to consider providing a long-lasting solution to the crisis and one of the best solutions could be the construction of hydropower plants along the River Nile. Although it will cause an increased risk of flooding, it is easier to control the plain flooding caused by hydropower plants than the one from the overflow of the river.

Hydropower plants are often used to control and prevent floods and it is time for the government to revisit its forgotten idea of the $1.47 billion Fulla Dam project to help the management of the overflow of the River Nile, which has continued to cause havoc in the country.

The establishment of the Hydropower plant will not only control the floods but also boost the economic growth of the country through industrialisation.

These floods that started in August 2020 are majorly caused by the overflow of the River Nile due to continuous rise in its water level. But if a hydropower plant is constructed along the River Nile, it will help control the floods because the accumulation of such large volumes of water in the reservoir will make flood management easier as the smallest of retention volumes reduce the likeliness of flooding.

According to the United Nations report, the Kaprun Ache, in Austria, had the tendency of experiencing floods every 10 years. However, after the construction of a hydropower plant with a reservoir, the probability of a major flood occurring has dropped to once every 75 years. While the Brazil hydropower plants, in conjunction with a matrix-based monitoring system, are also used to control flooding. The system is based on a waiting volume in the reservoir, a volume of water retained to allow optimal energy production, but also to safeguard from potential flood-inflow.

So, it has been proven beyond doubt that hydropower plants play a crucial role in the management of floods. The government needs to start focusing on finding a long-term solution to the threats from the River Nile floods which have so far covered about half of the country’s land.

 Currently, it seems only Eastern Equatoria and Western Bahr el-Ghazal states have been spared by the floods but the other eight states and the three administrative areas are majorly submerged in the stubborn waters. These River Nile floods will have severe impacts on the country and affected population if no lasting solution is found and already several homes, agricultural land, and properties have been destroyed. So, for how long shall the government and the aid agencies continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected population?   

The damage caused by the floods will have long-term negative effects and it can take many years for the flooded area to recover. Already, the United Nations have raised alarm over looming famine in the country.  The establishment of Hydropower plants could be the best bet and the sustainable solution to the perennial River Nile floods in the country.