Name of the Project
Kariba dam rehabilitation project (KDRP).

Location
Zambia.

Client
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) operates, maintains and manages the Kariba dam on behalf of the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Project Description
After almost 60 years of serving the Southern Africa region, the Kariba dam requires rehabilitation to ensure the longevity of the dam.

The natural river bed downstream of the dam has eroded into an 80-m-deep plunge pool as a result of routine heavy spillage of floodwater over the years. The erosion has not only been downwards, but also towards the foundations of the dam wall. Routine monitoring and the implementation of routine interventions, such as controlled spillage, have slowed the natural erosion; no significant changes to the plunge pool depth and shape have been recorded in the past 15 years.

The erosion has threatened to undercut and destabilise the foundations of the wall.

An analysis of the monitoring results by the ZRA has also shown continuous swelling of the wall concrete, owing to slow chemical reactions over the years. This has affected the smooth opening and closing of the spillway gates. In the longer term, additional swelling could cause the spillway gates to jam. Failure to open the spillway gates in the event of a flood could result in the overtopping of the dam, which could lead to its failure. Jamming of a gate in the open position could also lead to loss of water for power generation.

Failure to invest in the timely rehabilitation of the dam will result in the gradual deterioration of the key safety features associated with the structure.

Rehabilitation measures include:
• the design, fabrication and installation of an emergency gate and a new gantry to pre-vent the uncontrolled loss of water in the event of floodgate failure, which will result in water levels dropping to below the minimum opera-ting levels and interrupting power production;
• the refurbishment of the upstream stop-beam guides and the replacement of secondary concrete to prevent failure during the operation of stop-beams; and
• reshaping the plunge pool downstream of the dam to limit scouring and erosion that could potentially undermine the dam foundations, leading to dam failure.

The Kariba dam generates on average more than 6 800 GWh/y of hydropower. The dam’s wall straddles Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Potential Job Creation
The KDRP will create some job opportunities for skilled and semiskilled workers, particularly pertaining to the plunge pool reshaping.

Value
As of April 2015, the total project cost was estimated at $294-million, which will be released in tranches spread over the duration of the project. The project is being funded by the European Union (EU), the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the government of Sweden and the ZRA.

Duration
The KDRP works will take eight years to complete. The plunge pool reshaping, which is estimated to take three years to complete, will be followed by the refurbishment of the spillway, which will take about five years to complete.

Latest Developments
The Zambian and Zimbabwe governments, with the support of an EU delegation to Zambia, signed the plunge pool reshaping works contract at the dam wall on February 14.

The plunge pool reshaping is the first component of the KDRP funded by the EU, with consultant services being funded by the World Bank, the AfDB and the government of Sweden, together with the ZRA.

Razel-BEC, the contractor appointed for the plunge pool reshaping, has begun mobilising to site. Current activities are focused on site establishment and mobilisation of plant and equipment for the project works.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
EU (grant financing); World Bank and AfDB (loan and part grant financing); government of Sweden (grant financing) and Razel-BEC (plunge pool reshaping).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
ZRA public relations and communications manager Elizabeth Karonga, tel +260 211 230551 or
email karonga@zaraho.org.zm.