Damming of Bog Walk Gorge
By: , March 29, 2014The Key Point:
Photo: JIS
Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies (3rd left), signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with China Engineering Company (CHEC) for a feasibility study on the damming of the Bog Walk Gorge, at the Ministry in Kingston, on March 28. Also participating are (from left): Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Jamaica, Mr. Xiaojun Dong; Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell; and Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill. In the back row (from left) are: Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Mrs. Lei Liu (left); Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Mrs. Audrey Sewell and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Alwin Hayles.The Facts
- The dam would be able to store up to 1,900 million gallons, and supply 80 million gallons per day. The Mona Dam, which is the country’s largest water facility, stores 800 million gallons.
- The Minister said once the study indicates that the concept can work, it will move to the implementation stage, as it is an opportunity to develop three key areas - “water for human consumption, water for irrigation purposes, and expansion of our capabilities in renewable energy.”
The Full Story
The Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Engineering Company (CHEC), for a feasibility study for the damming of the Bog Walk Gorge, in St. Catherine.
The dam would be able to store up to 1,900 million gallons, and supply 80 million gallons per day. The Mona Dam, which is the country’s largest water facility, stores 800 million gallons.
“This one could significantly adjust our annual concerns about water for the Kingston Metropolitan Region. Assuming that the technical analysis goes well, it will certainly put away that problem for the foreseeable future,” said Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, at the signing ceremony, held on March 28 at the Ministry, in St. Andrew.
The Minister said once the study indicates that the concept can work, it will move to the implementation stage, as it is an opportunity to develop three key areas – “water for human consumption, water for irrigation purposes, and expansion of our capabilities in renewable energy.”
“We will be observing all the relevant laws and regulations, We are open for business, so I welcome any other entity which has a project idea, to come forward,” the Minister said.
Dr. Davies noted that CHEC must be commended for its investments in the economy, particularly in the infrastructure.
Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill; Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell; and officials of CHEC and the Government of China, participated in the signing.