Geography & History Notes | KCSE, NECTA, ZIMSEC & GCSE

  Hydro-Electric Power (HEP) refers to the production of electricity using the force of flowing water . Examples of a hydroelectric power scheme in Africa can be found in the Zimbabwe/Zambia border, the Volta project is in Ghana, the Cabora Bassa is in Mozambique, the Owen Falls is in Uganda and the Aswan project is in Egypt . The following are disadvantages of hydro-electric power scheme HEP schemes usually result in re-location of settlements since the reservoir covers a large area. Relocation of settlements disturbs the socio-economic development of the people since they have to re-locate their homes, farmland, and other related economic facilities. Re-location is also expensive in that governments usually pay compensation to people who are forced to move their settlements. The Construction of HEP stations is very expensive as a result, some countries cannot afford them even when they have good sites for the location of the schemes. Lakes that are created become breeding areas ...

   The Kainji dam project is located in the northwestern part of Nigeria across the Niger river at Kainji. The project was opened in 1969 and lies in a remote, thinly populated, and very poor part of Nigeria. The dam is 66 meters high and 55 meters long and has produced a man-made lake behind it known as lake Kainji (130 km long and 1300 kilometers square). The following are contributions of the Kainji dam project to the development of Nigeria: The promotion of the tourism  sector since the project is a tourist attraction, this leads to the generation of valuable foreign exchange, which is invested in many sectors like education and health The diversification of the economy by developing many economic activities in the region such as farming, trade, industries, and increasing national income. Promotion of urbanization or development of urban centers such as Yelwa which is a flourishing inland port, Abuja and Ibadan, and hence the development of associated facilities ...