Batoka project set to begin next year
THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) says it has made tremendous progress towards implementing the multibillion dollar Batoka Hydro-Electric Scheme with actual construction set to begin in the last quarter of next year.
The project has been failing to take off for several decades owing to unavailability of funds.
Briefing Members of Parliament drawn from the Portfolio Committees on Energy from Zambia and Zimbabwe who toured the project on Wednesday, ZRA chief executive Engineer Munyaradzi Munodawafa said there is a lot of buy-in from the Sadc region thereby raising hopes for the project’s success.
He said the environmental report was sent to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and its counterpart the Zambia Environmental Agency.
Eng Munodawafa said they expect to get feedback in March next year for public objections.
“We intend to conclude these studies on 31 August 2018 after which construction can start. We intend to start generating within the first three years before going to full capacity in five years.
“We are at an advanced stage and currently we are just concluding the feasibility studies in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment and engineering studies as we wait to come up with the final documents which answer to the question of climate change which was not included in previous feasibility studies,” he said.
ZRA requires close to $5 billion for the project which will see twin power stations constructed on either side of the Zambezi River. A 181m tall dam wall will be built. The project will generate 2400MW at its peak and Eng Munodawafa said this will be enough to save the whole Sadc region from a power deficit.
Eng Munodawafa said ZRA was hopeful funding would be mobilised after the Zambian and Zimbabwean governments tasked the African Development Bank (AfDB) to lead the process of attracting investors.
“The attractiveness of this project is such that power utilities from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania and Malawi among others have approached us showing interest to sign for off take of the project,” he said.
“What has been calculated as the cost of the project on paper is $3.6 billion but this will go up to $5 billion because of downstream costs. We are also working on mobilisation of funds and the two governments have requested the AfDB to lead in that regard.”
Eng Munodawafa said the Batoka project is a game changer and bankable project, with a viable 3.6kw/h generating cost.
The project will ensure more water is harvested downstream at the Kariba Dam and released when needed hence this will allow maximum electricity generation.
Proportional representation MP for Manicaland Mrs Fanny Chirisa (MDC-T) who chairs a subcommittee on energy and was leading the Zimbabwean delegation said the tour had been an eye opener for them to appreciate the project.
“We have been waiting for such an opportunity to appreciate what’s happening on site in terms of development of the project. There is a lot of potential for getting funding from donors and we want this completed as it is the answer to the region’s electricity challenges,” she said.
Her counterpart from Zambia Mr Ephraim Belemu said the project fits well into Sadc region’s integration strategy.
The MPs challenged ZRA to ensure that locals benefit from the bankable project through either employment or partnerships as contractors and funders. — @ ncubeleon