The construction of Batoka hydro-power dam in Zambia will start next year and end in 2023. This was revealed by Samuel Undenge, Zimbabwean Minister of Energy.

“The Batoka project is now on course and we have started carrying out feasibility studies which we expect to end in July this year. Between July and December we expect the project to go to tender,” he said addressing a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries stakeholders meeting.

The project which is jointly developed by Zimbabwe and Zambia has a capacity of 2,400 MW to be equally shared by both nations.

Zimbabwe and Zambia presently go through a severe power crisis which cut their production by almost 50%. One of the main reasons behind this deficit is the lowering level of water at power dams that provide more than 90% of what both countries consume.

Gwladys Johnson