Online Reporter
Walter Nyamukondiwa and Conrad Mupesa
THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) mandated to manage Africa’s fourth-longest river has launched a five-year corporate strategy to create a sustainable way of managing the river.
The strategic plan comes against the backdrop of the recently completed plunge pool rehabilitation expected to prolong the Kariba Dam Wall’s longevity.
Launching the strategy which is expected to create avenues for the full utilisation of the river for more power generation initiatives, the Zambezi River Authority’s Council of Ministers chairperson, Zambian Minister of Energy Mr Makozo Chikote said there was need to harness the river’s hydro-power production potential.
Spanning eight countries, the river plays a pivotal role in supporting agriculture, tourism, water supply, biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Yet one of the greatest untapped potentials of the Zambezi River is its vast hydroelectric power potential, he said, in a speech read on his behalf by ZRA’s board chairperson Dr Gloria Magombo, who is also Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development in Zimbabwe.
ZRA is co-chaired by neighbouring Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Despite its potential, the two countries power generating companies, ZESCO Ltd and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), are utilising only a third.
The two countries have, among their plans, focused on constructing the Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme along the river upstream.
The construction of additional dams along the river will facilitate the conjunctive operation of reservoirs.
The Devil’s and Mupata Gorges have been identified as other suitable locations for additional power infrastructure.
Zimbabwe has a power demand of over 1 900 MW while Zambia requires 2 800 MW with projections for 2050 put at soaring 6 300 and 11 000 MW respectively.
The two power-generating entities were challenged to ensure that the power potential was fully realised.
While dam levels have been steadily rising with a projection of 46 billion cubic metres targeted this year, ZESCO Ltd and ZPC were urged to align to their approved allocations.
“I take this opportunity to direct that ZESCO Ltd and the Zimbabwe Power Company and its utilities to align to their approved consumption and generation schedules to ensure that the Zambezi River Authority continues to sustainably manage the reservoir while we identify other sources of electricity to plug the power generation deficit in the interim,” Mr Chikote noted.
ZRA’s chief executive officer, Engineer Munyaradzi Munodawafa, said while there was a gradual rise in dam water levels, the authority was going to monitor the flows and halt the increase of power generating allocations until next month.
