Batoka Gorge hydro-electric project progresses
THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has made progress towards the construction of the multimillion Batoka Gorge Hydro-electric Scheme on the upstream of the Zambezi River.
ZRA public relations and communications manager Elizabeth Karonga disclosed this to the Daily Nation in a statement released in Livingstone. — Ms Karonga.
Ms. Karonga has said that from that background, the chief executive of the Zambezi River Authority Eng. Munyaradzi Munodawafa announced that the Authority will be holding an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting between Zambia and Zimbabwe to discuss a sole agenda on the development of the Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme.
She said the extraordinary meeting will take place in Livingstone on Wednesday this week.
“The Council of Ministers (COM), the supreme body of this bi-lateral organization, comprising the Ministers of Energy, Finance and Attorneys General from the two countries shall assemble for an extra-ordinary meeting to receive progress reports on the preparatory studies of the Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme," the statement reads.
Ms. Karonga said that during the COM meeting, the ministers were expected to make decisions on engineering feasibility study, legal and financial transaction advisory services and environmental and social impact assessment.
She said the reports are expected to be finalized by June this year.
“With this target schedule, COM is expecting to receive an update on the expressions of interest for the development of the Batoka Gorge Hydro- Electric Scheme and the roadmap to effecting the works," she said.
Zambezi River Authority is mandated to harness and manage the Zambezi River waters forming a common border between Zambia and Zimbabwe for socio-economic development.
It also maintains the Kariba Dam complex including any future dams or infrastructure on the Zambezi River.
With this target schedule, COM is expecting to receive an update on the expressions of interest for the development of the Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme and the roadmap to effecting the works