The Kompienga Dam is the largest and roundest hydro-electric dam in Kompienga Province in southeastern Burkina Faso. Constructed between 1985 and 1988, it is the country's first hydro-electric dam and is responsible for much of Ouagadougou's electricity supply. [1] Visitors can obtain a permit to visit the control room of the dam from the state electricity parastatal.
In 1985, demographers predicted that the construction of the Kompienga dam would bring about 15% increase in immigration to area between 1985 and 1990, 15% between 1990 and 1995, and 8% between 1995 and 2000 for economic reasons. The entire Kompienga river basin did in fact experience a sudden, dramatic increase in agricultural immigration after 1985, particularly in the area immediately adjacent to the dam construction site, which became Kompienga town. [2]
By 1989, virtually the entire area within a ten kilometre radius of the town of Kompienga had been occupied. Despite the growth of Kompienga however, the dam had consequences on some villages along the basin which were either totally or partially flooded by the dam-created lake.