ABSTRACT
There are 14 dams in Madagascar. The economic capability of the country (the fourth poorest in the world) has been reflected in the dam infrastructure including instrumentation, operation, and maintenance.
However, due to the islands exposure to climate change, the country depends on the capacity of dams to store and safely manage the water.
Under Emergency Project for Food Security and Social Protection (PURSAPS), financed by the WB, four dams have been assessed for safety. These dams were constructed in the 1930s and 1950s and as such have already passed the design life; all four dams were rehabilitated in the 1980s and early 1990s, but some rehabilitation works were not adequate, so further safety rehabilitation works are required to ensure the dams are not overtopped.
The most serious safety concerns are related to the Sahamaloto dam, which has lost at least 50% of its original storage due to sedimentation and would perhaps require decommissioning.
Deforestation, soil erosion, and sedimentation of rivers and reservoirs are significant problems. In some other catchments, not related to the four dams assessed, the government has already started with the implementation of long term sedimentation management measures, i.e. planting of trees and construction of check dams.
