Plaquette : Making the Senegal river navigable - IAGF 6ème session

8 Perform operational benchmarking at regional scale It was also recommended to integrate the project in t he events occurring around it at the regional scale, and to set up operat ional benchmarking of compet ing projects (other port developments). o Establish the operational strategy of intermodal networks and think on the scale of ail the infrastructures The SITRAM plans the construction of river and road infrastructures. They must be operated in coordination and in synergy, to ensure transport and the flow of traffic (goods and passengers) in t he Senegal River basin, under the best conditions of safety and cost. This requiresan overall operationa l strategy that takes into account the inf rast ruct ures (ports; dams; mining sites and agricultural cent res, etc ), the transport routes to be built (waterway; road; railway) and the strategie object ives of improving access in the basin. ln the samef rame of mind, t he synergy between the river and hydraulic inf rastruct ures should be emphasised. Ensuring navigation on the river will require a minimum volume of water to ensure the necessary draught in t he channel, whateve r the rainfall conditions. Thus the construction of a dam at Gourbassy (Mali) is vital, in addition to the existing dam of Manantali . ln 50 far as the Gourbassy dam will allow regulating 75% of the river water and providing an additional third in volume, building this dam should be given as much attention as the navigation project itself. KABINÉ KOMARA, INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT, MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ACTION COUNCIL o Explore the potential of river tourism lt w ill generate economic spinoffs and participate in t he project's innovative nature. " Start works downstream Regarding the phasing of the works, it is recommended to start at Saint-Louis, where the volume of material to be dredged is greatest. The construction of t he port and t he channel w ill permit generat ing the initial income. 19