Kariba Dam’s US$97m rehabilitation project reaches critical milestone

By Own Correspondent

The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) has reached a significant milestone with completion of the plunge pool reshaping – a critical component of the €113 million (US$96.9 million) EU-funded initiative.

This project, co-financed by the European Union (EU), the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), is essential for boosting clean energy supply in both Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Kariba Dam, which straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is a vital source of clean energy for both nations, generating over 10,000 GWh of renewable electricity annually.

The plunge pool reshaping, funded by the EU under the Global Gateway initiative, is a key component in minimizing the risk of dam failure, thereby safeguarding the energy supply and protecting millions of lives in the region.

Ambassadors and representatives from the EU Delegations in Zimbabwe and Zambia, along with officials from EU Member States, including the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, recently  joined the celebration of this major achievement.

“Their presence underscores the strong cooperation between the EU, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in supporting regional infrastructure and development,” reads a statement by the Delegation of the European Union to Zimbabwe

“As we near the completion of the KDRP, the EU remains committed to working with our partners to ensure the continued safety and functionality of the Kariba Dam, which is central to the economic development and energy security of Southern Africa.”

The project is now moving into its final stages which include “removal of the stoplogs and the refilling of the plunge pool, which will solidify the dam’s stability for generations to come”.