Kariba Dam wall rehab starts

Kariba Dam wall rehab starts
Published: 30 November 2017
Planned to be completed in eight years, the project which is being undertaken by a French contractor Razel-BEC, will be developed at an estimated cost of about US$294 million. It entails the reshaping of one of the world's largest man-made lakes' plunge pool to minimise a scouring of the dam's foundations and the refurbishment of its floodgates and associated infrastructure to improve the dam's stability and operations.

Munyaradzi Munodawafa, the chief executive officer of the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), a company which operates, maintains and manages the Kariba Dam on behalf of Zimbabwe and Zambia, confirmed the latest development last week.

"Progress on the Kariba Dam rehabilitation project is steady with the plunge pool currently in the implementation phase and the spillway refurbishment works under procurement," Munodawafa said.

He added: "The (project), which will contribute to the improved performance and longevity of the dam, will take another eight years and is expected to be completed in 2025, according to the current project schedule."

The World Bank will avail US$75 million, African Development Bank (US$75 million), the European Union (US$100 million), the Swedish government (US$20 million) and ZRA will provide the balance towards the project.

The financiers are, however, channelling funds through Zambia because Zimbabwe still has outstanding debt arrears with multilateral financial institutions.

The development comes following the sixth technical joint mission of stakeholders meeting which was held early this month in Siavonga, Zambia.

The mission, which monitors the implementation of the project to ensure that it complies with international dam safety standards, comprises of experts in engineering, concrete technology, hydrology as well as social and environment issues.

- fingaz
Tags: Kariba,

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