adminInitially the ZRA was mandated to set up the plant to be situated on the Batoka Gorge along the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North province.
Zimbabwe and Zambia share Kariba Dam and power station, and are now working together on the Batoka power project.
The two countries in December invited bids from prospective developers for construction of the project, expected to cost $4 billion, on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement.
Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma last week said officials from Zambia and Zimbabwe would meet soon to constitute the team.
“We met this week in Victoria Falls with our Zambian counterparts and agreed to set up a steering committee to spearhead implementation of the Batoka Power Project.
“The team will be working with the Zambezi River Authority and will include people from both countries,” he said.
Minister Mangoma said the two countries also agreed during the meeting to construct a road leading to the project site.
“We will be opening a road to the project site by June from both sides,” he said, adding that the two parties would now be meeting quarterly to review progress.
The Batoka Gorge project includes constructionof a dam and hydro-power plant on the Zambezi River which has capacity to generate 1 600 megawatts between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Minister Mangoma said the bids for the Batoka project would be closing this month.
“The expression of interests is closing on 8 February. Then we would know people interested on the project,” he said.
The Southern African Development Community is facing acute power shortages with Zimbabwe being the worst affected. — New Ziana.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter