Summary
<p>Construction of 2,400 MW Batoka Gorge hydro-electric power plant and dam in the central portion of the Zambezi River Basin, extending across the international boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The project comprises a 181 m high, 720 m roller compacted concrete gravity arch dam, radial gated crest type spillway, four intakes in the reservoir, two surface power plants, 6 turbines and transmission lines.</p>
Description
<p>The proposed BGHES is a bi-national hydro power project to be located approximately fifty-four (54) kilometres downstream of the Victoria Falls and will extend across the international boundary between the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe.</p>
<p>Through several subsequent studies and analysis (1981,1992-1993, 1998 and 2015) the current technical configuration for the BGHES comprises:</p>
<ul>
<li>176m high, 720m crest length Roller Compacted Concrete gravity arch dam;</li>
<li>Radial gated central crest spillway;</li>
<li>Two surface power plants, one on either side of the river bank, each with a capacity of 1,200MW, giving a combined capacity of 2,400MW;</li>
<li>6 x 200MW Francis turbines in each powerhouse;</li>
<li>Four water intakes delivering water through 4 tunnels (each approximately 1km in length) to the two surface power plants downstream of the dam;</li>
<li>Diversion tunnel</li>
<li>Switchyards for both power plants</li>
<li>Construction of the staff townships with social amenities and office complex for the Authority and Power utilities on Batoka North and Batoka South.</li>
<li>The staff townships will initially be permanent construction camps and located one on the north bank of the dam (in Zambia) and the other one on the south bank (in Zimbabwe).</li>
</ul>
<p>Single trasmission lines in Zambia (directed from the Project)Â will be located as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>2 x 55km of 330kV, Single Circuit Overhead Transmission lines between Batoka North Bank Power Station and Mukuni Substation, Livingstone.</li>
<li>1 x 170km of 330kV, Single Circuit Overhead Transmission Line between Batoka North Bank Power Station and Muzuma Substation, Choma.</li>
<li>2 x 230km of 330kV, Single Circuit Overhead Transmission Lines between Batoka North Bank Power Station and Nambala Substation, Mumbwa.</li>
</ul>
<p>Single trasmission lines in Zimbabwe (directed from the project)Â will be located as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Batoka North and Batoka South Interconnector (2 x 400kV);</li>
<li>BGHES to Victoria Falls (1x 400kV x 30km) in Zimbabwe complete with 2 x 400kV line bays;</li>
<li>Victoria Fall to Hwange (1 x 400kV x 55km) line complete with 2 x 400kV line bays</li>
<li>Victoria Falls 400/(132)88kV Substation complete with 4 x outgoing (132)88kV line bays</li>
<li>BGHES to Chakari (2 x 400/330kV x 400km) in Zimbabwe complete with 4 x 400kV line bays.</li>
<li>Chakari to Selous (1 x 330kV x 70km) line in Zimbabwe complete with 2 x 330kV line bays The line will be 400kV construction but operating at 330kV. </li>
<li>Selous to Dema (1 x 330kV x 95km) line in Zimbabwe complete with 2 x 330kV line bays. The line will be 400kV construction but operating at 330kV. </li>
<li>All lines shall come with 2 x Earthwire peaks ( 1 x 48 Core OPGW and 1 x GSW)</li>
</ul>
<p>.</p>
<p>Â </p>
Project Risk
<ul>
<li>Design: Time and cost overruns as a result of errors in the design, apparent during the construction phase.</li>
<li>Construction: Potential risk of Time and cost overruns as a result of construction contractor not being able to meet the agreed programme.</li>
<li>Financial: Large envelope required and not many funders can meet the required funding requirements.</li>
<li>Program Management â€" Interface: Risk that either the construction of one component i.e. the Dam or Power Plants impacts the completion of the other component.</li>
<li>Hydrological: Due to lower or higher-than-expected water flows, floods, unusual seasonal variations.</li>
<li>Geological: Unforeseen geological conditions resulting in additional costs.</li>
<li>Environmental: International objection on social, environmental or cultural grounds. Environment is adversely impacted and mitigation measures not adequate in relation to the project being near a heritage site. Additionally, impact of climate change on project and a Global Circulation Model (GCM) has been used to estimate the effect of the potential climate change on the hydrological regime.</li>
<li>Country Risk: The impact of Zimbabwe’s debt arrears and international sanctions is a constraint on credit gathering.</li>
<li>Socio-economic impact: Resettlement may be required for the transmission aspects of the project, therefore a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) will be compiled to meet international good practice and will ensure that negotiated compensation/replacement packages are provided</li>
</ul>
Stakeholders
African Development Bank
African Union Development Agency
Eastern Africa Power Pool
Southern African Development Community
Southern African Power Pool
World Bank
Zambia - Ministry of Energy
Zambia - Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development
Zambia - Ministry of Transport and Communications
Zambia - Zambezi River Authority
Zambia Electricity Supply Company
Zimbabwe - Ministry of Energy and Power Development
Zimbabwe - Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority
Zimbabwe Power Company
African Development Bank
World Bank
Zambia - Zambezi River Authority
Zimbabwe - Ministry of Energy and Power Development