(Proceedings, First International Conference on Renewable Energy, 6–8 October 2004, New Delhi, pp. PG-16-30).
To satisfy the increasing demand on water supply for domestic, industrial and irrigation purpose in the northern region of the Island of Mauritius, the Midlands Dam was constructed. The unequal distribution of precipitation on the island will be balanced by the transfer of stored water in the centre of the island towards the northern region. The reservoir water fed into the existing La Nicoliere Water Transfer System with a 27 km long feeder canal and a compensation basin with water treatment plant. The possibility was studied to generate electric energy by using the water released from the Midlands Dam reservoir. Although technically feasible, the cost-benefit ratio was unattractive and did not allow the installation of a small hydropower plant at the time of the Midlands Dam construction. However, a penstock was already installed to enable the implementation of a power plant at a later stage.
Unequal distribution, Stored water, Compensation basin, Electric energy, Cost-benefit ratio, Penstock
