In a context marked by flooding in the Senegal River basin, Abdoulaye Dia, Director General of SEMAF (Société d’Exploitation de Manantali et du Félou), was keen to provide details on the origin of these floods. According to him, the widely held idea that water releases from the Manantali dam are responsible for the rising water levels in the Senegal River is “exaggerated”.
“in the event of exceptional floods, like those observed this year, releases are necessary for safety reasons”
Mr. Dia insisted that the current floods are not only due to the releases of the Manantali dam, but to a set of hydrological factors throughout the Senegal River basin.
The Manantali Dam, located on the Bafing River in Mali, plays a major role in water management, but it is not the only factor influencing the flow of the Senegal River. In a note sent to PressAfrik, he recalled that Manantali is a multi-year dam, with a storage capacity of 11 billion cubic meters of water. “The water that arrives is thus stored over several years because it is a multi-year dam,” he explained. According to him, “this water is used mainly for the production of electricity, distributed to the three member countries of the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS)”.
However, in the event of exceptional floods, such as those observed this year, releases are necessary for safety reasons. “These releases are made through valves placed on the structure; it is for safety reasons, both for the dam and for the populations downstream,” he stressed. However, these releases only control “around 40% of the waters that supply the Senegal River basin. »
The CEO of SEMAF also explained that the Senegal River is formed by the confluence of the Bafing and Bakoye rivers in Bafoulabe, Mali, and is joined by other tributaries, such as the Falémé. “The total flow observed in the Senegal River basin is therefore the sum of the flow of the Bafing, Bakoye, Falémé rivers, as well as runoff water from rains in Mauritania, Mali and Senegal,” he explained. .
He recalled that other dam projects, such as that of Gourbassy, are underway to better regulate the river, in addition to the Diama dam, located near Saint-Louis. However, the current floods are considered exceptional, comparable to those of 1961. “We have noted floods not observed since 1961. These are therefore exceptional floods,” he said, adding that “since yesterday evening, a slight drop in water level was observed. »
Abdoulaye Dia also warned that “the situation remains closely linked to precipitation, particularly in Guinea, where many tributaries of the Senegal River basin originate. » He assured that the OMVS and the Senegalese Ministry of Hydraulics, in coordination with the crisis units of the States concerned, are closely monitoring the evolution of the situation.
Finally, he stressed the importance of the safety of the dam itself. “Such a structure, which was very expensive, if it were to give way, due to failure to carry out the releases when necessary, could cause a flood wave which could reach very far inland,” he said. warned. He did not fail to indicate that “all safety measures are in place and that the dam’s safety devices, particularly the valves, are functioning properly. »
