Afulilo Dam

Afulilo Dam
Location of Afulilo Dam in Samoa
Country Samoa
Location Ta'elefaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti
Coordinates 13°58′14.94″S 171°33′43.73″W / 13.9708167°S 171.5621472°W / -13.9708167; -171.5621472Coordinates: 13°58′14.94″S 171°33′43.73″W / 13.9708167°S 171.5621472°W / -13.9708167; -171.5621472
Purpose Power
Status Operational
Construction began 1990
Opening date 1993
Construction cost US$26.6 million
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Gravity
Impounds Afulilo River
Height 20 m (66 ft)
Length 82 m (269 ft)
Spillway type Controlled, two tainter gates
Spillway capacity 150 m3/s (5,300 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates Lake Afulilo
Total capacity 10,000,000 m3 (8,100 acre·ft)
Surface area 2.5 km2 (0.97 sq mi)
Power station
Name Ta'lefaga Hydroelectric Plant
Coordinates 13°56′39.28″S 171°34′13.25″W / 13.9442444°S 171.5703472°W / -13.9442444; -171.5703472
Commission date 1993
Hydraulic head 310 m (1,020 ft)
Turbines 2 x 2 MW (2,700 hp) Pelton-type
Installed capacity 4 MW (5,400 hp)

The Afulilo Dam is a gravity dam on the Afulilo River about 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Ta'elefaga in the district of Va'a-o-Fonoti on Upolu island of Samoa. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 4 megawatts (5,400 hp) power station. It is the largest hydroelectric power station by installed capacity in Samoa. First studied in 1980, construction on the project began in 1990 and the power station was commissioned in 1993. Funding for the US$26.6 million project was provided by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Development Association, European Investment Bank, and European Economic Community loans and grants.

Ta'elefaga Hydroelectric Plant

Water from the 20-metre (66 ft) tall dam is sent down 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) of headrace pipe before it reaches 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) of penstock. The penstock terminates at Ta'elefaga Hydroelectric Plant where the water spins two 4 megawatts (5,400 hp) Pelton turbine-generators. The elevation between the reservoir and the power station affords a hydraulic head (water drop) of 310 metres (1,020 ft).[1] Efforts to add a third 2 MW turbine-generator and raise the dam by 1.7 m (5.6 ft), thereby increasing the reservoir capacity by 50% to 15,000,000 m3 (12,000 acre·ft), are currently being studied.[2] In April 2009 SMEC Holdings was awarded a consultancy contract for this work by the Asian Development Bank.[3]

References

  1. "Appraisal of The Afulilo Hydroelectric Project in Western Samoa" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. November 1986. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  2. "Report on the Augmenlolion Phose of the Afulilo Hydro Power Scheme in Somoo" (PDF). Environmenlol lmpqct Assessmenl (ElA). November 1997. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  3. "SMEC Wins Afulilo Hydropower Project in Samoa". Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
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