Monasavu Dam

Dam in Naitasiri Province, Fiji
Dam in Naitasiri Province
17°45′23.95″S 178°03′00.57″E / 17.7566528°S 178.0501583°E / -17.7566528; 178.0501583PurposePowerStatusOperationalConstruction beganMay 1978Opening date1983; 41 years ago (1983)Construction costUS$234 millionOwner(s)Fiji Electricity AuthorityDam and spillwaysType of damEmbankment, rock-fillImpoundsNanuku RiverHeight60 m (200 ft)Length200 m (660 ft)ReservoirCreatesMonasavu ReservoirTotal capacity133,000,000 m3 (108,000 acre⋅ft)Wailoa Hydro Power StationCoordinates17°44′10.22″S 178°06′06.18″E / 17.7361722°S 178.1017167°E / -17.7361722; 178.1017167Commission date1983Hydraulic head625 m (2,051 ft)Turbines4 x 20 MW (27,000 hp) Pelton-typeInstalled capacity80 MW (110,000 hp)
Monosavu Catchment
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
LocationViti Levu, Fiji
Nearest citySuva
Area7.06 km2 (2.73 sq mi)[1]
Established2004

The Monasavu Dam is a rock-fill embankment dam on the Nanuku River about 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of Suva in Naitasiri Province, Fiji. It is located just above the Monasavu Falls and is both the tallest and largest dam, which also withholds the largest reservoir in the country. The primary purpose of the dam is to produce hydroelectric power and it supports an 80 megawatts (110,000 hp) power station. To offset fossil fuel imports for power production on the island, the Monasavu-Wailoa Hydroelectric Project was authorized by the Fiji Electricity Authority in 1977 and construction began in May 1978.[2] The dam was complete and power station commissioned in 1983.[3] About US$15 million of the project's total US$234 million cost was supplied by the World Bank, the rest by the host government and loans.

The dam, protection of its catchment and rainforest contribute to its national significance as outlined in Fiji's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.[4]

Wailoa Hydro Power Station

Water from the dam is diverted through nearly 5.4 kilometres (3.4 mi) of tunnels to the Wailoa Hydro Power Station to the east on the Wailoa River. The power station contains four 20 megawatts (27,000 hp) Pelton turbine-generators and the drop in elevation between the reservoir and power station affords a hydraulic head (water drop) of about 625 metres (2,051 ft).[5] In 1992, the power station was supplying 92% of Viti Levu's, the main Fiji island, power. This share dropped to 49% in 2006 due to growing power demand.[6]

Climate

Climate data for Monasavu Dam (elevation 808 m (2,651 ft), 1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 25.8
(78.4) 		26.0
(78.8) 		26.0
(78.8) 		24.7
(76.5) 		23.1
(73.6) 		22.2
(72.0) 		21.4
(70.5) 		21.7
(71.1) 		22.4
(72.3) 		23.4
(74.1) 		24.4
(75.9) 		25.1
(77.2) 		23.9
(75.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 22.5
(72.5) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		21.8
(71.2) 		20.3
(68.5) 		19.5
(67.1) 		18.6
(65.5) 		18.7
(65.7) 		19.3
(66.7) 		20.1
(68.2) 		21.1
(70.0) 		22.0
(71.6) 		20.8
(69.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 19.2
(66.6) 		19.6
(67.3) 		19.6
(67.3) 		18.9
(66.0) 		17.5
(63.5) 		16.8
(62.2) 		15.7
(60.3) 		15.7
(60.3) 		16.2
(61.2) 		16.9
(62.4) 		17.8
(64.0) 		18.8
(65.8) 		17.7
(63.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 664.5
(26.16) 		509.8
(20.07) 		502.3
(19.78) 		477.0
(18.78) 		314.1
(12.37) 		238.4
(9.39) 		193.9
(7.63) 		244.6
(9.63) 		288.8
(11.37) 		416.7
(16.41) 		431.9
(17.00) 		642.0
(25.28) 		4,924
(193.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 24.9 22.9 24.8 22.9 18.7 17.9 16.3 16.7 17.4 19.8 21.8 23.7 247.8
Source: World Meteorological Organization[7]

See also

  • iconEnergy portal
  • iconWater portal
  • iconRenewable energy portal

References

  1. ^ "Monasavu Catchment | Protected Planet". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Hydro". Fiji Electricity Authority. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Fiji seeks design to expand 80-MW Wailoa". 29 September 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  4. ^ Ganilau, Bernadette Rounds (2007). Fiji Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. pp. 107–112. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Monasavu-Wailoa Hydroelectric Project" (PDF). World Bank. 22 May 1978. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  6. ^ Singh, Anirudh (21 February 2008). "Why FEA stands out among its peers". The Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  7. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
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