Brokopondo
Location: Suriname
Operator: Suriname Aluminum Company LLC
Configuration: 6 X 30 MW Kaplan
Operation: 1965
T/G supplier: Escher Wyss, Siemens
Quick facts: The 54m Afobaka Dam across the Suriname River was built from 1961 to 1964 near Brokopondo town. It created a very large reservoir. The length of the dam structures amount to 12km. The reservoir was put into service in 1965, but did not reach its design level until 1971. About three-quarters of the hydro plant output is used by Suraloco to process bauxite and alumina. Most of the remainder is used in Paramaribo. Operation Gwamba was a large-scale wildlife rescue operation associated with dam completion and operation. The reservoir submerged about 1,500km² of rain forest. Vegetative decomposition created substantial outgassing and adverse water quality for some time. Among other things, the acid water resulted in considerable turbine damage.

Petit-Saut
Location: French Guiana
Operator: EDF - Guyane
Configuration: 4 X 29 MW Kaplan
Operation: 1994-1995
T/G supplier: Neyrpic, Alsthom-Jeumont

Photograph courtesy of Ministre de l'Economie, des Finances et de l'Industrie (FR)
Posted 2 Jul 2003