Batoka hydro-electricity project on course

PARIS - Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) board chairperson Partson Mbiriri says there is progress in the public tender process for the construction of the Batoka hydro-electricity project.
Mr Mbiriri says the results of the feasibility studies are expected to be submitted by the end of this year. “Those are important documents going forward in terms of engaging potential contractors,” he said.
Mr Mbiriri was speaking in an interview with journalists from Zambia and Zimbabwe in the French capital Paris yesterday. He added that ZRA has already called for expressions of interest and 25 companies applied for the tender process out of which nine were shortlisted.
Mr Mbiriri also said that the construction of access roads in the Batoka project site has started. “All the processes towards developing Batoka hydro-electricity scheme are underway,” he said.
The construction of the Batoka hydro-electricity scheme has been triggered by high demand for power in the region. The Batoka hydro-electricity scheme is a three-phased project which includes the construction of the dam, construction of a power station and construction of transmission lines.
Apart from operating and maintaining the Kariba dam, ZRA also has a mandate of developing new hydro-electricity schemes on the Zambezi River, on behalf of the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
And according to its 2010-2014 strategic objectives, ZRA will undertake dam maintenance and develop the Batoka hydro-electricity scheme.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Mines, Energy and Water Development permanent secretary Charity Mwansa has said that the Kariba dam is a strategic asset for the two governments.
Ms Mwansa is also co-chairperson of the ZRA board. The Kariba dam supplies about 40 percent of electricity to the region. The ZRA delegation has left France for Venice in Italy.
While in France, the delegation attended presentations on the Bimont dam and the Malpasset ruins dam. The delegation also visited the Verdon gorges in south-eastern France.
Batoka hydro-electricity project on course (The Daily Mail, Zambia,