Zimbabwean News You Can Trust
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has said the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam is now close to completion.
The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project is funded by the African Development Bank, and the European Union with counterpart funding by Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The rehabilitation of the reservoir has two work components – the plunge pool reshaping and the spillway refurbishment.
Lusaka Times reported ZRA chief executive officer Munyaradzi Munodawafa as saying reshaping works are at 74 percent completion with a disbursement ratio of 75 percent.
He said the coffer dam has been completed, about a 36-metre depth of the plunge pool has been dewatered and the preparatory works for the fault zone strengthening measures have started.
He said, “To date, the project has realised several significant milestones which have gradually drawn it much closer to completion, despite the numerous challenges and setbacks that have been encountered since commencement.
“Significant progress has accrued in implementation of the spillway rehabilitation work, with key milestones achieved to date being the successful installation of the coffer dams in sluices six, three, two and one.
“The expected date of completion of the spillway refurbishment works is February 2025.”
Lake Kariba has been in operation since 1960 and has been meeting the water needs of the two power utility companies – ZESCO in Zambia and ZESA in Zimbabwe – for power generation.
