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Nuclear energy

Concerns Raised Over Water Sourcing for French Power Station

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Dungowan Creek Alliance and local residents are seeking answers regarding the water sourcing for a planned pumped hydro power station near Dungowan Dam, with documents obtained under Freedom of Information (FOI) raising concerns about the potential consequences of the project. Energy giant EDF, which manages France's 56 nuclear power reactors, needs water from the Dungowan Valley to maintain its hydropower facility, according to Dungowan Creek Alliance president Michael Walton. The project involves the construction of an upper and a lower reservoir, with water pumped between them to generate electricity.

Key Takeaways:

  • EDF is seeking 3 gigalitres of water to fill its lower reservoir, topping that up every year with about 400 megalitres of water, according to Mr. Walton.
  • The company has already purchased a 165 hectare property for its lower reservoir, about 5 kilometres downstream from Dungowan Dam.
  • Sourcing water could come from a pipe connecting Dungowan Dam and Calala which is used to carry water into Tamworth.
  • Dungowan Dam, owned by Tamworth Regional Council, has a capacity for 6.3 gigalitres.
  • The alliance raises concerns not only about water security but also the potential consequences of a catastrophic failure of the dam wall.
  • An upgrade of the dam has stalled, leaving landholders fearing the consequences of a dam wall failure.
  • The power station would need to top-up its reservoirs to account for evaporation, which would reduce the amount of water flow into the Namoi catchment.

Statistics:

  • 3 gigalitres of water needed to fill the lower reservoir (EDF)
  • 400 megalitres of water needed to top-up the lower reservoir each year (EDF)
  • 6.3 gigalitres capacity of Dungowan Dam (Tamworth Regional Council)
  • 165 hectares of property purchased by EDF for the lower reservoir
  • 5 kilometres distance of the lower reservoir from Dungowan Dam
  • 80 planned projects in the New England Renewable Energy Zone
  • 56 nuclear power reactors managed by EDF in France
  • 18-month period of emails between EDF executives and Tamworth Regional Council

Sources:

  • Dungowan Creek Alliance president Michael Walton
  • Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson
  • An EDF spokesperson
  • Tamworth Regional Council spokesperson
  • Documents obtained under Freedom of Information (FOI)
  • "Dungowan Dam" owned by Tamworth Regional Council
  • EDF manages 56 nuclear power reactors in France (Source: EDF official website, accessed September 2022)

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