Batoka Gorge Dam
Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Zimbabwe
Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station
Location of Batoka Gorge Dam in Zimbabwe
CountryZambia/Zimbabwe
Coordinates17°55′11″S 26°07′51″E / 17.91972°S 26.13083°E / -17.91972; 26.13083
PurposePower
StatusProposed
Dam and spillways
Type of damArch gravity
ImpoundsZambezi River
Height181 m (594 ft)
Width (crest)12 m (39 ft)
Width (base)97.8 m (321 ft)
Spillway capacity20,000 m3/s (710,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity1,680×10^6 m3 (1,360,000 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area508,000 km2 (196,000 sq mi)
Turbines12 x 200 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity2400 MW

The proposed Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station is a 2400 MW hydroelectric power station, planned for the Zambezi River on the international border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.[1]

Location

The proposed power station will be located on the Zambezi River, approximately 54 kilometres (34 mi), downstream of Victoria Falls, straddling the international border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.[2]

Overview

Currently, the proposal is for two power plants, each with an installed capacity of 1200 MW; one on the Zambian side and another on the Zimbabwean side. The dam to supply the reservoir with water will be a 181 metres (594 ft) tall arch-gravity type.[3]

The project is being implemented by the Zambezi River Authority, a bi-national organization mandated to operate, monitor and maintain the Kariba Dam complex as well as exploit the full potential of the Zambezi River.[4]

Community resistance

As in the proposal in the 1990s that was stopped, and now, again, stakeholders and the local community are strongly opposed to the dam's construction. Despite opposition, in June 2019, the Zambian and Zimbabwean governments signed a deal to build the dam with General Electric and a Chinese company, "Power China."[5] In 2023, Zambia canceled the contract, citing high costs and failure to follow proper procurement procedures.[6] In another turn of events in September 2023, UNESCO granted permission for the dam project to proceed even with critics' environmental and tourism concerns.[7]

The tourism industry generated by the current Batoka Gorge, including its whitewater rafting, employs thousands of local individuals, both directly and indirectly, and has been acknowledged as the third largest contributor to Zambia's economy.[8] Detractors of the dam have concerns about the impact on the region’s white-water rapids enterprises. Critics argue the dam poses a flooding threat to the river rapids. Zambezi whitewater rapids tours are renowned for being among the best commercially operated day and multi-day trips worldwide.[5][9][10] The Zambezi's famous one-day rafting trip draws thousands of primarily young global tourists annually. Local rafting companies running mostly full and half-day trips in the wet and dry seasons.[9] If the proposal moves forward, the rafting industry will lose an estimated $4 million annually.[9]

The dam construction forming of a narrow, deep-water lake is expected to have local ecosystem consequences. Concerns over the lake’s ability to sustain large fish populations threaten area fishing tourism.[5][10] Some dam proponents suggest it could open up new tourism opportunities, such as parasailing and wakeboarding. However, dangerous animals like hippos and crocodiles in flat waters raise safety concerns.[11] The Zambezi basin is known for providing various ecosystem services. Constructing the dam is anticipated to have lasting effects on the region, particularly the nature tourism industry.[10]

While destroying the tourism industry, the dam will also not accomplish its desired effect of providing electricity directly to the local rural population, as it will be exported to the Southern African Power Pool.[12] The community is also concerned about the environment. According to an article published in Zambezia, the dam could cause the river to back up to within 650 metres of Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[13] Contravening UNESCO restrictions, this would violate the agreed-upon 12 km boundary preservation below the Falls.[14] Consequently, both Zimbabwe and Zambia would abrogate their international legal obligations pursuant to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (adopted by the General Conference at its seventeenth session (Paris, 16 November 1972)).[15] In other words, if the dam proposal moves forward, the deleterious effect is tantamount to the Victoria Falls becoming a World Heritage in Danger.[16]

These perspectives are part of the ongoing debate surrounding the proposed dam and the potential consequences.

Construction costs

As of July 2018, the projected cost of development was estimated at US$4.5 billion. General Electric Africa has expressed interest in developing this power station under the design-build-operate-transfer arrangement, but with ownership reverting to Zambia and Zimbabwe, after the developers have recovered their investment plus profits.[4]

In June 2019, Bloomberg News reported that the construction contract had been awarded to a consortium comprising General Electric of the United States and Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina).[1] Construction is expected to take from ten to thirteen years.[17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Matthew Hill, and Prinesha Naidoo (21 June 2019). "GE, PowerChina Set to Build $4 Billion Zambia-Zimbabwe Plant". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  2. ↑ Lusaka Times Staff (27 September 2013). "Construction of Dam for Batoka Gorge hydroelectric power stations to start next year". Lusaka Times. Lusaka. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  3. ↑ COMESA (7 March 2014). "Batoka Gorge Hydro-Power Project Profile" (PDF). Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Archived from the original (Archived from the Original) on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 Mukarati, Levi (9 July 2018). "$4.5 Billion Batoka Deal to Create 6,000 Jobs". The Zimbabwe Herald. Harare. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Save the Zambezi – Batoka Gorge threatened by huge dam - International Rafting Federation". 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  6. ↑ Okafor, Chinedu (2023-06-15). "Zambia cancels $5 billion project with China, see why". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  7. ↑ Okafor, Chinedu (October 17, 2023). "The controversial $5 billion project between Zambia and Zimbabwe has received approval from the UN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  8. ↑ "The Zambezi River: Threatened Paddling Classics #7". Canoe & Kayak Magazine. 2015-03-10. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  9. 1 2 3 "Save the Zambezi – Batoka Gorge threatened by huge dam - International Rafting Federation". 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  10. 1 2 3 "Batoka Gorge Dam". www.victoriafalls-guide.net. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  11. ↑ "Massive Dam Threatens Spectacular Gorge Downstream of Victoria Falls". Earth Island Journal. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  12. ↑ Canoe & Kayak Magazine (10 March 2015). "The Zambezi River: Threatened Paddling Classics #7". Canoe & Kayak Magazine. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  13. ↑ "Latest Update on the Batoka Dam Project | VictoriaFalls24". victoriafalls24.com. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  14. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  15. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  16. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "World Heritage in Danger". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  17. ↑ Jean Marie Takouleu (25 June 2019). "Zambia/Zimbabwe: GE And Power China To Build Batoka Gorge Dam". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
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