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Walter Nyamukondiwa Kariba Bureau

The European Union has extended an additional grant of €30 million towards the Kariba Dam rehabilitation project aimed at sorting out the plunge pool downstream.

While these have remained closed for several years, with the entire Zambezi flow earmarked for the two extended power stations, the work needs to be done to ensure the dam can continue to operate safely.

The development comes as the Zambezi River Authority, through its Council of Ministers, has assured Zimbabwe and Zambia of continued power generation as the project to rehabilitate the dam’s plunge pool and spillway gates reaches its critical phase of de-watering and excavation.

In the early stages, when a coffer dam was being built to allow engineers to reach the walls of the plunge pool, both authorities had to cut back on generation in day time to allow the construction teams access.

Kariba Dam, which is just over 60-years-old, had a projected lifespan of around 140 years, but unforeseen structural weaknesses, including a weak rock formation at its base have been detected.

The rock was being eroded every time spillway gates were opened, inching closer to the dam structure and would eventually have affected its integrity.

This prompted works to reshape the plunge pool using stronger material to absorb the force of falling water and deflect it.

European Union Ambassador to Zambia, Jacek Jankowski, announced the injection of a further €30 million to cover cost variations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant supply chain disruptions.

He made the announcement during a tour of the project site by a high level delegation.

This brings to €113 million, the EU’s contribution to the bilateral project between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“Access to green energy and water remains a key priority,” said Ambassador Jankowski.

“The EU Green Deal remains one of the most important political priorities.

“I am happy to announce that an additional amount of €30 million grant from the European Union through the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa, will soon be mobilised to reinforce the financial envelope allocated to the plunge pool works.”

The development, he said, was part of the EU’s drive to reduce its carbon footprint and become carbon neutral by 2050.

The EU, said Ambassador Jankowski, stands ready to support African countries, including Zimbabwe and Zambia through a €3 billion investment to promote use of renewable energy.

“We are ready to assist Zambia and Zimbabwe through investment in renewable energy,” he said.

“Access to affordable and reliable and sustainable are prerequisites for Zambia’s and Zimbabwe’s economic development.”

ZRA Council of Ministers chairman, who is also Zimbabwe’s Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda, expressed satisfaction with progress at the project.

“Reshaping of the plunge pool is now at 73 percent complete while the spillway gates rehabilitation is 48 percent complete,” he said.

“The lifespan of the dam should have been 140 years, but already we are conducting these rehabilitations almost halfway through.

“This suggests that the studies conducted 60 years ago and the technology that time could not pick up the things being fixed now.”

Works are expected to be completed in 2024.