Coastal Development in Benin

Benin is planning the construction of new seawater lagoons along its Atlantic coast to promote tourism and protect the shoreline. Christian Esser, Managing Director of Inros Lackner Togo, presented this major maritime project to the President of Benin, Patrice Talon. Also in attendance were Minister of Economy and Finance Romuald Wadagni and Minister for Sustainable Development José Didier Tonato.

Two seawater lagoons are planned along the beaches of the village of Avloh (east of Grand Popo) and the urban area of Fridjossè in Cotonou, providing safe public access to bathing areas while simultaneously protecting the coast from erosion. Each lagoon, approximately 1,000 meters in length and 70 meters in width, is designed to blend harmoniously into the coastal landscape and offer a safer alternative to the open sea, which is considered dangerous in the region.

The artificial lagoons will be connected to the sea via channels, allowing for natural tidal water exchange, which will help maintain ecological balance and ensure water quality. The team from Inros Lackner includes landscape planners, engineers, and hydrodynamics specialists from Togo and Vietnam. Currently, extensive technical, environmental, and social studies are underway. By the end of November, development of a mathematical model will commence to determine the sedimentation rate of the sea connection, based on a detailed bathymetric survey.

With these seawater lagoons, Benin aims not only to boost tourism but also to improve the quality of life for its population in the long term. The project represents a balance between economic development and environmental protection and could serve as a model for similar initiatives in the region.

^{Photo from left: Pieter Boer, Christian Esser, Patrice Talon, José Didier Tonato, Martin Pépin AÏNA}