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Low water levels affecting hydroelectric dams in Ivory Coast
- The country experiencing drastic power cuts
Ivory Coast is currently experiencing drastic water shortages leading to crippled electricity generation in the electricity sector. The two major dams in the country have suffered low water levels. The Head of the Ayame Hydroelectric dam, Ladji Koné Vacaba, says, “It hardly rains at all, the water level has dropped by five meters, the first time this has happened in more than a decade”.
“We are going through a period of drought which affects all the dams in the country: Kossou, Taabo, Soubré and Buyo. Water is the raw material of the dam; without water, we cannot produce electricity. Therefore, we are limited by natural phenomena”, he continued.
Ivory Coast Energy Minister, Thomas Camara lamenting the situation, said, “we have maximized hydroelectric production while the water level in the dams has dropped”. However, he was optimistic about a return to normal operating capacity as the rainy season approaches. “The rainy season is coming, the water level will recover, and we will have all our capacities available to cover the demand. By mid-July, we will be out of this rationing situation for good”, he assured.