Sustainable Way for Large

Dams and Storages

Jia Jinsheng President, ICOLD

March 2012, Marseille

Strategic importance for sustainable

development

billion

High variant

Medium variant

Low variant

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 Year

4

6

8

10

12

14

2

Population growth

and urbanization

1

Economic recovery and

development

3

4 Ecological security

Food security 2

A quick developing world

Freshwater availability per capita 1950- 2050

Dams for sustainable development

World Declaration: Dams & Hydropower for African

Sustainable Development issued jointly by

ICOLD

ICID

IHA

WEC

…… ……

In the world, 2/3 of economically viable hydropower potential is yet to be tapped and 90% of this potential is still available in developing countries.

In Africa, only 4% of fresh water potential and less than 12% of hydropower potential has been developed.

The effects of extreme climatic conditions (large-scale floods and regular droughts) can be vastly mitigated by dam/reservoir schemes.

Naturally the supply of clean drinking water and irrigation water to enhance food security, are major additional benefits of hydro schemes.

It is now time to go for a significant development of dams and hydropower in Africa!

Key points in World Declaration

Dam construction in the world

Before 1900: According to incomplete statistics, the total

number of large dams (H≥15m) was 70.

0

5

10

15

20

25

15-20m 20-30m 30-40m 40-50m 50-60m ≥60m

Dams (H≥15m) constructed before 1900

Dam heitght

Num

be

r o

f d

am

s

56%

18%

12%

7% 2% 5%Irrigation & water supply

Hydropower

Flood control

Recreation

Navigation & fishing

Others

Dam construction in the world

By 2010: The total number of large dams constructed

and under construction is 59871.

Different functions of dams

In general, most of developing countries have the value of

less than 20 large dams per million inhabitants.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Alban

ia

Nor

way

Icel

and

Cyp

rus

Can

ada

Spa

in

Aus

tralia

Japa

n

Sou

th A

frica

Swed

en

China

USA

Switz

erla

nd

Turke

y

Arg

entin

aIn

dia

Liby

aLa

os

Ken

ya

Number of Dams per Million Inhabitants in typical countries

Nu

mb

er

pe

r M

illio

n

0

800

1600

2400

3200

4000

>0.9 0.8~0.9 0.7~0.8 0.6~0.7 0.5~0.6

storage capacity per

capita (m3)

Human Develpment Index (HDI)

Storage capacity per capita & Human Development Index (HDI)

China 0.772

USA 0.956

Cemented Material Dam (CMD):

between RCC dam and

embankment dam

CFRD

CMD

RCC

100.00

20.00

New progress on dam technology

Cemented Material Dams (CMD) includes:

Cemented sand and gravel dam (CSG dam)

Rock filled concrete dam (RFC dam)

Masonry dam

…

Cindere dam (H=107 m) in Turkey,

the highest CSG dam in the world Changken RFC dam (H=26.5 m)

in China

Characteristics of CSG dam

Dam Safety

High anti-seismic ability

High ability against overtopping

Economy

Use local materials

Cost saving > 15%

Environment

Few waste materials, and even “zero” waste materials Tobetsu CSG dam (H=52 m)

in Japan

Worldwide CSG dams

Dam Location Height (m) Completed

year

Cindere Turkey 107 2008

Beydag Turkey 100 2007

Gongguoqiao China 56 2009

Tobetsu Japan 52 2010

Can-Asujan Philippine 44 2004

Hongkou cofferdam China 35.5 2006

Nagashima Japan 34 2000

Ano Mera Greek 32 1997

Moncion Dominica 28 2001

Marathia Greek 28 1993

St Martin de Londress France 25 1992

Jiemian cofferdam China 16.3 2004

Hongkou CSG cofferdam survived

against overtopping（H=8m）

Overtopping height 8m

DAMS AND ENVIRONMENT

For more than 30 years, ICOLD has been particularly concerned to enhance the profession's awareness of the social and environmental aspects of dams and reservoirs, and to broadening its perspective in such a way that the social-env. aspects receive the same attention and conscientious treatment as the technical aspects.

Ecological function of dams

16

8 times since 2002

Scour the whole riverbed of lower reach

480 mill. tons sediments into sea

Riverbed 1 m (average) lower

Achievements of Water and Sediment

Regulation of Xiaolangdi Dam

Water and sediment regulation

by Xiaolangdi Dam Artificial Density Flow

17

实施珠江压咸补淡应急调水，保证了珠江三角洲

地区供水安全。

Emergency Water Diversion to Guarantee

Water Supply

大藤峡工程

Datengxia Dam

18

Utilize and change nature As well as

Protect and adapt to nature

Perception

Technologically feasible and

economically reasonable

As well as

Eco-friendly and social

acceptable

Decision

Project safety and function

realization

As well as

Ecological compensation,

safety and regulation

Management

National and collective

interests

As well as

Stakeholders’ benefits

Benefit Sharing

1

2

3

4

Sustainable development of dams:

4 Shifts

ICOLD and Other International Organizations

Closely with ICID, IHA,

IWRA, WWC, …

With IHA President Mr. Abdel-Malek With IWRA President Mr. Xia

With ICID Hon. President

Mr. Madramootoo

Joint efforts for a better world

Hanoi, Vietnam, 2010.5 Lisbon, Portugal, 2010.9

The 1st in Hanoi, Vietnam, 2010.5

The 2nd in Lisbon, Portugal, 2010.9

The 3rd in Beijing, China, 2010.11

The 4th in Zhengzhou, China, 2011.9

Beijing, China, 2010.11

Round Table Meeting on “Dams

and Hydropower for African

Sustainable Development”

World Hand in Hand

Sharing Experience & Lessons

Promoting Exchange & Cooperation

Meeting Challenges Jointly