EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL TRIP TO AFOBAKA,
Monday, 28th June 2010
The trip was meant in the first place for the Physics/Physical Science) students directly instructed by Mr. Emiel Krak. Graduates, other High School students, Middle School students, teachers and other staff could also participate. The trip was organized by Mrs. Joan Telgt, mother of one of the students, and Mr. Emiel Krak .
We went by bus. On the way back we were joined by some former-graduate students.
We went via the Martin Luther Kingweg (-Road) and arrived at Paranam where we stopped outside the bauxite plant of the Suriname Aluminum Company (Suralco). From there Mr Krak explained the relationship between the Afobaka Dam and the bauxite plant and from there we had an overview of the plant. The hydro-electric installation and lake were built to supply the bauxite plant and the aluminum smelter with electrical relatively cheap energy. He explained how water power becomes electrical power and how it is transported to the bauxite plant and smelter.
Since aluminum smelting, which uses a lot of energy, was stopped 10 years ago, a lot of excess energy became available for Suriname. That energy is now the main source of electrical energy for Suriname.
Mr. Krak also spoke about the process and history of bauxite mining and conversion to alumina and the end product Aluminum. He also showed the obsolete aluminum smelters and also samples of bauxite, Alumina (half product between bauxite and Aluminum it self. In this arrangement Suriname became the country with a total integrated Operation( including (Mining, Refinery and Melting in one country located close to each other.)
After this we continued our trip to Afobaka (via Weg naar Afobaka (Road to Afobaka)). We drove in front of the dam and stopped at both sides of the dam. Mr. Krak explained how the the Hydro-electric installation worked. In short: at the bottom of the Dam there are turbines, which are moved by water flowing from the lake by water pressure through the dam (water power). The turbines connected rotors let coils moving in a magnetic field that generates electricity (hence generator) .The generated electricity is then being transported by electric wires supported by huge masts to Paranam Operations over a distance of approximately 200 km.
He also showed us the water spill ways, which are used when the water level becomes too high. In front of the dam we passed a big old turbine which is placed there for explanation of how it works in relation to electrical generation.
On the way back we went to Klaaskreek, a Maroon village at the banks of the confluence of Klaas Creek and Suriname River. We used the same roads to go back and the roads are never far from the Suriname River. The recreation facility at the bank of Suriname River is basically a nice place with neat huts, beach volleyball fields, restrooms and a swimming space which was shielded more or less with nets and poles. But minuses were that when we arrived there we saw people washing meat in the shielded space (unhygienic and may attract predatory fish), and at a few hundred meters distance a sand digging machine operating close to the bank made the water somewhat murky. So we decided not to swim there.
We complained about this to the people there. Later we concluded that the water was only suitable for paddling. Nevertheless we enjoyed the place, playing volleyball, walking around, relaxing and paddling. One of our teachers, Joan Grauwde, was recognized by a Klaaskreek Maroon lady who was trying to sell hand-made pangi’s (Marron dress) to us as her former teacher. This was a surprising and touching meeting of teacher and student. Our female teachers tried and also bought some nice pangi’s.
After this we went to the well-known water recreation facility of the Amerindian village Powaka with its fresh cola-coloured creek water. The cola-coloured water is not seen much in the world. The water gets is colour probably by mixing with finely dispersed humus. Another well-known recreation facility, Colakreek (Cola Creek), got its name from this kind of water.
The students who went on the trip were: Daniel Lee, Sabrina Vaseur, Khabir King.Ruth Saman, Gabriel Grauwde, Azim King, Claire Patandin, Vinantia Nandlal, Jason Hoppie, Jaleesa Pigot, Jill Liauw Kie Fa, Jessica Bang A Foe, Marysa Brand-Flu, Isaiah Wiebers, ReAnn Kaersenhout, Joia van Draanen,
The former students were Seon Gomes, Jess Ligeon, Jean Kartoredjo.The parent was Mrs. Joan Telgt.
Teachers and other staff: were:Mr. Emiel Krak, Mrs. Sharon Hoppie, Mrs. Joan Grauwde, Mr. Atma Jagbandhan, Ms. Mahnaz Kohinory, Ms. Gilian Gordon.
