Albert Canal

Albert Canal

Albert Canal, waterway connecting the cities of Antwerp and Liège in Belgium. The Albert Canal is about 130 km (80 miles) long. As completed in 1939, it had a minimum bottom width of 24 metres (80 feet) and could be navigated by 2,000-ton vessels having a maximum draft of 2.7 metres (9 feet). Enlargement of the canal began in 1960, and it can now handle push-tow units of 9,000 tons with a draft of 3.4 metres (11 feet). Traversing a highly industrialized area, the canal has six sets of triple locks (at Wijnegem, Olen, Ham, Hasselt, Diepenbeek, and Genk) and one single lock (at Monsin, Liège), the fall from Liège to Antwerp being 56 metres (184 feet).

Given concerns about future low water levels caused by global warming, plans were made in the early 21st century to build hydroelectric power and pumping installations at the six lock complexes on the Albert Canal to ensure that inland shipping will continue without interruption. The use of fish-friendly Archimedes screws (a type of auger pump) reduces water losses when the locks are in use. When water levels are high, the difference in height of 10 metres (33 feet) allows the installations to generate hydroelectricity. The project began at the locks in Ham, in 2011. The Archimedes screws installed in Hasselt are among the largest of their type in the world; they have a diameter of 5 metres (16 feet) and a length of 22 metres (72 feet).