In Togo, the government has announced the construction of a multi-purpose dam at Sarakawa, about 22 km northwest of the town of Kara. The structure will provide drinking water for some 500,000 people, as well as for agriculture and electricity generation.
The future water reservoir will be built by Hitech Construction, a Nigerian construction and civil engineering company. The work, which will begin soon in the Sarakawa locality in Togo, will improve access to water for the inhabitants of the area, as well as for the people of the town of Kara, located 22 km northwest of Sarakawa. The water project was unveiled on 15 April 2023 in a statement by the Togolese government.
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The future dam will retain water from the Kara River, which rises in the Binah and flows into the Oti River. Part of the raw water, i.e. 22,000 m3 per day, will be treated and then transported to households through distribution networks. The Togolese authorities expect at least 500,000 people to be affected in terms of drinking water supply.
119 million investment
The water from the Sarakawa dam will also be used for irrigation, resulting in the development of 36,000 hectares of agricultural land, thus improving crop diversification, agricultural yields and irrigated agriculture for local communities with a national impact.
The new reservoir will also be used for electricity generation, through a hydroelectric power plant equipped with two 3500 mm diameter power mains. While the power output of the plant has not been stated, it is known that the electricity generated will boost the power supply of over 400,000 people. The project will also contribute to reducing the cost of electricity distribution in several sectors such as health, education, technology and agriculture through the processing of agricultural products.
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The construction of the Sarakawa dam will require an investment of 78 billion CFA francs, nearly 119 million euros. The Togolese government will benefit from the financial support of Hitech Construction. The Nigerian company will also strengthen the capacities of Togolese experts in the management of water supply infrastructures.
Inès Magoum
