Zambia, Zimbabwe to Move on 1,600-Megawatt Batoka Gorge Hydro Project

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--After long delays caused by a dispute between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Zambezi River Authority has invited bids for the construction of the dam for the Batoka Gorge hydropower project, a joint venture between the two countries' governments.

Work on the project is expected to begin by the end of next year, following the completion of feasibility studies and design. It is projected to be completed sometime in 2020 or 2021.

The new dam will be upstream of the 1,470-megawatt (MW) Lake Kariba hydropower dam on the Zambezi and will be 54 kilometers downstream from Victoria Falls. The two countries each will receive 800 MW of power when the project is operational.

A new road has been completed on the Zimbabwean side of the gorge and links with the tourist resort at Victoria Falls, but Zambia has not completed preparations to begin site work. The delays were caused by disputed payments owed to Zambia by Zimbabwe, which pre-date 1963. The disputed payments are from projects undertaken when the two countries were in a federation with Malawi.

The project will reduce power outages in both countries and decrease their reliance on coal-fired power stations. The two countries will become net exporters of power after meeting local needs from the Batoka project, a 900-MW expansion at Kariba and other current power development projects. Both countries are experiencing an increased demand for power with the expansion of their mining and industrial sectors.

For related information, see December 26, 2012, article - Zambian Hydro Project Gleans $65 Million Grant and International Funding Support

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