Comments on: $80 Billion Dam for the Congo http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/ The Neat Side of the Web Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:02:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Moon http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-523016 Moon Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:19:42 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-523016 Akiro, how does that work? Would oil be a better thing to use for power? Coal? If there was a landslide and it blocked a river, would that be a terrible environmental impact? I believe they are hoping to get an economy started and join the rest of the world. You don't build transmission lines first and then build power plants. It also seems like exporting power would provide needed cash. I don't know all the details obviously, but it seems to me this has a good chance of being a win-win. Unless you just want them to remain a fifth world country with no hope. Akiro, how does that work? Would oil be a better thing to use for power? Coal? If there was a landslide and it blocked a river, would that be a terrible environmental impact?

I believe they are hoping to get an economy started and join the rest of the world. You don’t build transmission lines first and then build power plants.

It also seems like exporting power would provide needed cash.

I don’t know all the details obviously, but it seems to me this has a good chance of being a win-win. Unless you just want them to remain a fifth world country with no hope.

]]> By: Akiro http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-522971 Akiro Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:14:09 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-522971 Creating the dam would have a terrible environmental impact as hydroelectric power dams are particularly damning on the environment... green pun :) The damn would destroy a huge amount of land from flooding for the reservoir. This would remove animal habitat and farming land. There is also the terrible disruption to the river dams cause. I agree with fsmarch lets focus on food not electricity production. Oh and anyone have problems logging in today? Lots of PHP errors for me. Creating the dam would have a terrible environmental impact as hydroelectric power dams are particularly damning on the environment… green pun :)

The damn would destroy a huge amount of land from flooding for the reservoir. This would remove animal habitat and farming land. There is also the terrible disruption to the river dams cause.

I agree with fsmarch lets focus on food not electricity production.

Oh and anyone have problems logging in today? Lots of PHP errors for me.

]]> By: fsmarch http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-522722 fsmarch Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:13:25 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-522722 How about feeding the starving people, first? How about feeding the starving people, first?

]]> By: Gerry http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-522695 Gerry Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:24:16 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-522695 $80Billion spent and then we'll get another 200Billion emails a year promising us untold riches if we'll just send a check to cover the administration of secret funds or lottery winnings being smuggled out of Nigeria. Brilliant!!! $80Billion spent and then we’ll get another 200Billion emails a year promising us untold riches if we’ll just send a check to cover the administration of secret funds or lottery winnings being smuggled out of Nigeria.

Brilliant!!!

]]> By: Abdul Alhazred http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-522662 Abdul Alhazred Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:22:32 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-522662 Considering there's a war going on there ... What's the point of building the plant (even assuming it gets sufficient military protection), when the transmission lines are certain to be sabotaged or stolen? Considering there’s a war going on there …

What’s the point of building the plant (even assuming it gets sufficient military protection), when the transmission lines are certain to be sabotaged or stolen?

]]> By: mark http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-521975 mark Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:18:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-521975 The criticisms are pretty silly. Corruption is rampent in smaller programs without oversight (ie NGOs). Programs of this scale will have way to many eyes on it and performance metrics to lose much to corruption, plus, project managment will be mostly western. Also, even if there is corruption, what an awful argument against it, African's need power. Anytime something may have corruption it shouldnt be done? I guess that means we should send a dime more aid to africa, and close all their businesses, and never build power plants for them. Also, they have huge shortages in power, people connected to power don't have power. Let's fix that easy problem first then worry about those not on the grid (2/3 are not on grids, they have generators). The criticisms are pretty silly. Corruption is rampent in smaller programs without oversight (ie NGOs). Programs of this scale will have way to many eyes on it and performance metrics to lose much to corruption, plus, project managment will be mostly western. Also, even if there is corruption, what an awful argument against it, African’s need power. Anytime something may have corruption it shouldnt be done? I guess that means we should send a dime more aid to africa, and close all their businesses, and never build power plants for them. Also, they have huge shortages in power, people connected to power don’t have power. Let’s fix that easy problem first then worry about those not on the grid (2/3 are not on grids, they have generators).

]]> By: J of The Sandhills http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-521799 J of The Sandhills Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:02:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-521799 even if the majority of power is directed towards industry, that might mean increase production and expansion of business. besides, the infrastructure to deliver power to individual homes is a long way coming, even if the dam is built. look how long it took for rural homes in america to get on the grid even if the majority of power is directed towards industry, that might mean increase production and expansion of business.

besides, the infrastructure to deliver power to individual homes is a long way coming, even if the dam is built. look how long it took for rural homes in america to get on the grid

]]> By: Christophe http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-521619 Christophe Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:07:15 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-521619 Well, you gotta get money to buy all those Chinese weapons Well, you gotta get money to buy all those Chinese weapons

]]> By: batchild http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-521416 batchild Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:54:01 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-521416 I might have thought this was a great idea until I read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. I might have thought this was a great idea until I read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.

]]> By: Justin http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/22/80-billion-dam-for-the-congo/#comment-521333 Justin Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:23:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=15839#comment-521333 Wow! 2/3 Africans don't even have power! Wow! 2/3 Africans don’t even have power!

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