Badush Dam
Encyclopedia
The Badush Dam is an unfinished multi-purpose dam
on the Tigris
16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Mosul, Iraq. The main purpose of the dam is to produce 170 MW of hydroelectricity
in addition to managing tailwater (outflows) from the unstable Mosul Dam
upstream. Construction on the dam began in the 1990s and was halted prior to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
. Concerns over the stability of the Mosul Dam significantly contributed to recent efforts to restart construction of the Badush Dam, and possibly expand it as well.
lethal gas exhalation. Significant construction on the dam along with the hydro-power unit housing had occurred.
was developing a project to restart construction on the dam. Currently, it would cost about US$300 million to complete the initial design but the Government of Iraq is wary of spending an additional US$10 billion to expand the dam's size in order to help mitigate a potential failure of the Mosul Dam. The current project contains a main earthfill dam with an inclined clay core and other random fills, two saddle dams (earthfill dams) at the left bank and a 240 metres (787.4 ft) concrete dam (hollow buttress type) at the right bank. The concrete dam includes eight bottom outlets, a spillway
and four power intakes and conduits, a stilling basin, headrace and tailrace channels. There is a power house, close to the concrete dam. The Badush Dam's spillway will have a maximum output of 4000 cubic metres (141,258.7 cu ft) per second; each hydro-power unit will have a capacity of 275 cubic metres (9,711.5 cu ft) per second for a total of 1100 cubic metres (38,846.1 cu ft) per second.
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on the Tigris
Tigris
The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.-Geography:...
16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Mosul, Iraq. The main purpose of the dam is to produce 170 MW of hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
in addition to managing tailwater (outflows) from the unstable Mosul Dam
Mosul Dam
Mosul Dam or Chambarakat Dam, formerly known as Saddam Dam , is the largest dam in Iraq. It is located on the Tigris River in the western governorate of Ninawa, upstream of the city of Mosul. The hydroelectric dam holds, at full capacity, about of water and provides electricity to the...
upstream. Construction on the dam began in the 1990s and was halted prior to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. Concerns over the stability of the Mosul Dam significantly contributed to recent efforts to restart construction of the Badush Dam, and possibly expand it as well.
Initial construction
Construction had begun on the Badush Dam in the 1990s but was halted because of several problems, particularlylethal gas exhalation. Significant construction on the dam along with the hydro-power unit housing had occurred.
Current project
As early as December 2005, Iraq's Ministry of Water ResourcesMinistry of Water Resources (Iraq)
The Ministry of Water Resources is a ministry within the government of Iraq. Led by Latif Rashid, it is responsible for water management, including maintenance of the extensive system of irrigation canals and dams and other related tasks...
was developing a project to restart construction on the dam. Currently, it would cost about US$300 million to complete the initial design but the Government of Iraq is wary of spending an additional US$10 billion to expand the dam's size in order to help mitigate a potential failure of the Mosul Dam. The current project contains a main earthfill dam with an inclined clay core and other random fills, two saddle dams (earthfill dams) at the left bank and a 240 metres (787.4 ft) concrete dam (hollow buttress type) at the right bank. The concrete dam includes eight bottom outlets, a spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
and four power intakes and conduits, a stilling basin, headrace and tailrace channels. There is a power house, close to the concrete dam. The Badush Dam's spillway will have a maximum output of 4000 cubic metres (141,258.7 cu ft) per second; each hydro-power unit will have a capacity of 275 cubic metres (9,711.5 cu ft) per second for a total of 1100 cubic metres (38,846.1 cu ft) per second.