Batoka power project hurdles cleared
Zand Zambia are proceeding with development of the 2 400-megawatt (MW) Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (BGHES), after earlier concerns the project would threaten the world heritage status of the area were resolved.
The US$4,5 billion power project is being jointly facilitated by the two countries and the electricity generated would be shared equally.
In an interview on Friday, Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and various stakeholders along the Zambezi River had raised issues that implementation of the hydro-electric power project would destroy the heritage status of the area around the gorge.
He said various feasibility studies for the BGHES, including an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), were carried out and it has since been agreed that the envisaged power project can take precedence.
The ESIA — which included a livelihood study of affected communities, a household census, a socio-economic survey and asset inventory to restore and potentially improve the livelihoods of the economically displaced — was undertaken by a South African firm.
“Feasibility studies for the project were done and the Government was happy with the proposed investment.
“However, new issues emerged, the issues had to do with the status of that area as a UNESCO heritage site so there were discussions that were there, where my predecessors were involved regarding the heritage site status that was being threatened by that project.
“But from our Zimbabwean and Zambian side, we were together saying there would be no environmental impact to the extent that the heritage status of the area around the gorge would be affected.
“What then emerged was that we are now in agreement with UNESCO and all other stakeholders along the Zambezi that the project has to go ahead,” said Minister Moyo.
He said because the BGHES was a bilateral project, competitive bidding to secure project contractors and financiers, has not been decided.
“At the moment, the competitive bidding for the Batoka project has not been decided. I think there are a number of processes that should go because remember it’s going to be a bilateral project, so a number of processes have to be undertaken until, at least, a timetable then comes through,”said Minister Moyo.
It has been reported that the African Development Bank has been identified as the adviser and lead arranger of funding for the BGHES, to be located downstream from Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River, which straddles Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The Batoka Gorge sits on the Zambezi River, which supplies water to the Kariba Hydropower Plant, which the two neighbouring countries jointly own, producing 1 050MW on the Zimbabwean side and 1 080MW for Zambia.
“That project is a very big project, which I think should solve most of our power issues.
“If that project is implemented, it’s going to see us generating a lot of power, which will serve as a complement to Kariba. It’s going to solve our power issues in the country.”
The two countries and the rest of the Southern African Development Community are presently facing power shortages that have seen some of the countries experiencing long hours without electricity.
Locally, the situation, caused by frequent breakdowns at the country’s largest thermal power station, has been compounded by low water levels in Kariba Dam, which provides the bulk of the two countries’ electricity supplies.
Successful synchronisation of the US$1,5 billion Hwange Thermal Power Station Units 7 and 8 expansion project this year has now seen the facility feed 600MW into the national grid.
As a result, Zimbabwe — whose peak demand is 2 200MW — has increased power generation to an average of 1 500MW from 700MW.
Due to low water levels in Kariba, the Zambezi River Authority, which manages water resources in the river on behalf of the two countries, has had to ration the amount of water used to generate electricity by the hydropower station.
The BGHES is projected to generate annual revenues of over US$750 million for Zimbabwe and Zambia upon completion.
The scheme will also result in the development of a township to be located on both the north bank of the dam (in Zambia) and on the south bank (in Zimbabwe).
It is hoped the mega project — which would also generate direct employment for over 4 000 people, and another 6 000 indirectly — is a flagship project in the southern African region being spearheaded by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa.