adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
Consultants engaged by the Zimbabwe River Authority have completed an Environmental Impact Assessment for a $6 billion hydropower plant at the Batoka Gorge. The proposed 1,600 megawatt Batoka Gorge Hydro-electric power station is a joint project between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The power project will generate 800MW electricity for each country once completed.
Situated 47km downstream of the Victoria Falls and upstream of the existing Kariba Dam hydro-electric station, the project is expected to take nine years to complete and is divided into two phases.
The consulting firm, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), met other interested parties in Victoria Falls yesterday to give feedback on the study as well as gather people’s views.
Mike Everett of ERM said they will be presenting the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to the two governments in March following a study that started in May last year.
“The project team came here in October and met some stakeholders and we’re now halfway through preliminary work.
“A lot of work, however, still needs to be done which is why we want to hear your input,” said Everett.
“This is a very challenging project and we’re here to introduce it to you as we also report on the ESIA. The construction work is expected to last nine years.
“It’s divided into two phases, the first stage involves making access roads and building the first permanent camp which would take two years.
“The second stage will be the construction of the dam and plants which will take between six and seven years.”
The South Africa based ERM has partnered Black Crystal of Zimbabwe and Kaizen Consulting International of Zambia for the power generating plant.
ZRA was also expected to work in consultation with Zesca in Zambia and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) in Zimbabwe on the project implementation.
The project involves the construction of a dam and a hydropower plant on the Zambezi River across the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
If completed, the project would increase generation capacity and reduce reliance on electricity imports.
Initial studies have shown that the Batoka hydro scheme would turn Zimbabwe into a regional net exporter of power.
The Batoka hydro concept was conceived in 1972 out of a study instituted by the predecessor of ZRA, Central African Power Corporation.
The study’s aim was to identify possible power sources which the inter-governmental institution could develop to meet Zimbabwe and Zambia’s power demands.
Batoka Hydro project is Zimbabwe’s long-term plan to deal with the country’s power deficit.
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