Name of the Project
Batoka gorge hydroelectric scheme (HES).

Location
Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Project Owner/s
Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which comprises the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation and the ministries of energy from both countries.

Project Description
The proposed project involves the construction of an HES on the Zambezi river, across the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The power station will have an installed capacity of 1 600 MW and includes a 181-m-high, roller-compacted concrete cavity arch dam, a radial-gated crest-type spillway and two underground power stations on the north and south banks of the river, each with four 200 MW vertical-shaft Francis turbine generators.

The project is designed as a run-of-river scheme, with an estimated average energy generation of 8 700 GWh/y.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The cost of the project has been estimated at $2.5-billion; however, the actual cost will be known only after the feasibility has been completed.

Planned Start/End Date
The project will take at least seven years to complete.

Latest Developments
Zambia and Zimbabwe will start building the Batoka gorge hydropower plant next year.

Feasibility studies are almost complete and a developer for the project is expected to be engaged by the end of this year.

In February, ZRA shortlisted US, European and Chinese companies to build the Batoka gorge hydropower plant, according to a statement by Zambia's ministry of finance.

Those shortlisted are a consortium of General Electric and Power Construction Corporation of China, Salini Impregilo of Italy and a joint venture of Chinese firms Three Gorges Corporation, China International, and Water Electric Corporation and China Gezhouba Group Company.

The project will use a build, own transfer financing model and place no fiscal strain on either government, as no sovereign guarantees will be required.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
ZRA project manager Batoka Gorge HES Ezekiel Kasaro, tel +260 211 238665 or email kasaro@zaraho.org.zm.