Burkina Faso’s electricity utility company, SONABEL, says it is considering opening the spillway gates at the Bagré Dam this week as water levels in the reservoir continue to rise.
According to the latest hydrological update issued by SONABEL on Tuesday, the Bagré Dam’s upstream water level currently stands at 234.55 metres, with the reservoir 93.98% full.
The current level is just 0.45 metres below the dam’s Normal Operating Water Level of 235 metres.
SONABEL said it could begin opening the spillway gates as early as Friday, August 28, 2026, if the reservoir reaches the 234.75-metre mark.
The utility said the public would be notified in advance of the exact date and time of any water release should the situation make it necessary.
Possible impact on Ghana
The development is being closely monitored in Ghana because water releases from the Bagré Dam can increase water levels downstream along the White Volta, potentially raising the risk of flooding in parts of northern Ghana.
Authorities and communities along the affected waterways are therefore expected to remain alert to further updates from Burkina Faso and Ghanaian agencies responsible for water and disaster management.
Kompienga Dam
Meanwhile, the nearby Kompienga Dam remains further from capacity.
SONABEL reported that its upstream water level currently stands at 178.13 metres, representing a filling rate of 81.45%.
The level is 1.87 metres below its Normal Operating Water Level of 180 metres.
SONABEL further disclosed that one floodgate at the Kompienga Dam has remained open at 0.50 metres since January 1, 2026, releasing water at a rate of approximately 19.08 cubic metres per second.
The latest hydrological update was issued by Ernest Sanou, an engineer with SONABEL’s Hydraulic Service under the utility’s Hydroelectric Production Department.
