ZRA expedites Kariba Dam plunge pool rehab

Mash West Bureau

THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has accelerated work on the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam plunge pool and spillway to make up for delays experienced in the project.

The rehabilitation project will ensure the dam’s long-term efficient operation into the future and its continued supply of electricity to Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The US$294 million Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) is being funded by the European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank, the government of Sweden and ZRA, which is representing Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Speaking to journalists after a tour of the project during the 8th Technical Joint Mission of multiple stakeholders directly involved in the implementation of the KDRP in Siavonga, Zambia, ZRA Contracts Engineer Sudden Mukuwe said geological challenges had delayed the project.

He said the delays were experienced after it was discovered that the rock that was supposed to be blasted to make way for the road and to support it was partially decomposed.

“We wanted to put a road on a certain position and the plan was to blast the areas, hoping there was solid rock. It was to be costly because we had to put more support when the plan was to cut the mountain off and put the road there,” he said.

“The team is working flat out to make sure we are back on track.

‘We have put in two immediate systems to gather momentum. Our borders close at 8pm, so our team will be working to 8pm instead of the normal 4:30pm and that’s a positive,” he said.

Eng Mukuwe said the project was still within its budget and timeframe despite the delays.

“We don’t see any budgeting issues. We are still within time, it’s just a delay that happened at the embryo stage of the project. We don’t see us going off our budget or going beyond the time lines,” he said.

African Development Bank senior power engineer Ms Elizabeth Muguti expressed confidence that the project would be completed within set timelines.

“We know there are challenges technically and administratively. We really look forward to progress happening in Kariba.

“When we have such delays, you expect such of concern, it is a learning process in the sense that we cannot rush Kariba Dam rehabilitation like we would rush rehabilitation of a road,” she said.