Calueque Dam Explained

Calueque Dam
Location Map:	Angola
Location Map Caption:	Map of Angola showing the location of Calueque Dam
Coordinates:	-17.2728°N 14.5444°W
Country:	Angola
Location:	Kunene River, Kunene Province
Purpose:	Power, Drinking, Irrigation
Status:	O
Construction Began:	1972
Opening:	2015
Dam Crosses:	Kunene River
Dam Volume:	475000000m^2

The Calueque Dam, is an operational multipurpose dam across the Kunene River, in Kunene Province, in southwestern Angola. The dam stores water for the 347MW Ruacana Hydroelectric Power Station, in neighboring Namibia. Its waters are also used for the irrigation of farmland, both in Angola and Namibia.^[1]

Location

The dam is located in the town of Calueque, close to the international border with Namibia, approximately 196km (122miles), by road, southwest of the town of Ondjiva, the provincial capital.

The dam is approximately 1282km (797miles), by road, south of Luanda, the capital city of Angola. The geographical coordinates of Calueque Dam are 17°16'22.0"S, 14°32'40.0"E (Latitude:-17.272778; Longitude:14.544444).

History

In October 1964, representatives of the government of Portugal and the government of South Africa met in Lisbon, Portugal and signed agreements relating to the construction of dams on the Kunene River, thereby controlling the rate of flow of the river and maximizing electricity output at the dams. The agreements also related to maximizing the availability of water for use by humans and animals in Angola and South West Africa (now Namibia). The agreements spelt out who owned what and who would construct, operate and pay for (a) Gove Dam (b) Calueque Dam and the associated Gove Hydroelectric Power Station and the Ruacana Hydroelectric Power Station.^{[1] [2]}

Construction of the Calueque Dam started in 1972. Work on the dam was abandoned in 1976 due to the Angolan Civil War. At the time construction stopped in 1976, approximately 70 percent of the civil works had been completed and the dam could provide some water for human and animal use. In 1988, "an attack" severely damaged the incomplete structure.^{[1] [3]}

Repairs and optimization

In 2012, repairs and refurbishment of the partially complete dam commenced. Rehabilitation work was concluded in 2015.^[4] Other optimization work includes the rehabilitation of the canal carrying water for human and animal use, from the dam at Calueque, Angola to Oshakati, Namibia, measuring 150km (90miles).^[5]

See also

• Energy in Angola

External links

• Upgrading dam infrastructure in Angola As of 11 March 2014.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kunene River Awareness Kit . The Kunene River Scheme: Calueque Dam . 2010 . Kunene River Awareness Kit . 16 April 2021 . Luanda.
2. Web site: . Agreement between the government of the Republic of South Africa and the government of Portugal in regard to the first phase of development of the water resources of the Cunene river basin Lisbon, 21 January 1969 . 21 January 1969 . Food and Agriculture Organization . 16 April 2021 . Rome, Italy . FAO Quoting: Portugal, Dario do Governo. No. 250, 28 October 1970, p. 1589.
3. Web site: Pretoria Says Angola Raid Is Threat to Talks on Peace . 30 June 1988 . . Bernard E. Trainor . 16 April 2021.
4. Web site: 2015–Rehabilitation of Calueque Dam: Challenges And Successes . The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated (ANCOLD Inc) . 2015 . P. C. Blersch, W. van Wyk, R. Steenkamp . 16 April 2021 . Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
5. Web site: Namibia: NamWater Launches The Rehabilitation of the Calueque-Oshakati Canal . Afrik21.africa . 16 February 2021 . Inès Magoum . 16 April 2021 . Paris, France.