Stopping of Petit-Saut

The stopping of Petit-Saut is a French stopping located in the department of the Guyana between the communes of Sinnamary and Saint-Élie.

This stopping is located on the river Sinnamary at approximately 60 km of the estuary. Its lake of reserve has a surface of 350 km ² and is largest of France.

It feeds in electricity Cayenne and its agglomeration, Saint-Laurent-of-Maroni the, Kourou and the Guianese Space center, and the other cities of the coastal region.

The construction of this stopping was started in 1989 (1987 for the road) was finished in 1994.

Gas rejections

During construction of the stopping, and taking into account the zone of forest to be flooded, it was not proceeded to the deforestation of the site.

The trapped organic matter broke up and absorbed part of the oxygen of water and caused rejections of Sulfure of hydrogen, CO2 and Méthane. This pollution then caused the death of many fish shortly after the setting in water. To reduce the effect on the environment, EDF has to make modifications (in order to cause movements) which decreased the drop height of water of 4 m and decreased the output of the reserve of 15%.

However, progressively by the mineralization of the organic matter, the emissions decrease (the maximum of emission was reached in 1995).

External bonds

Gas emission with greenhouse effects on the lake of Petit-Saut - Study Hydreco
Effects of the stopping on fish - File IRD

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