{"id":380,"date":"2026-09-11T06:41:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T06:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/139.84.241.235\/zra\/?post_type=zra_press_release&p=380"},"modified":"2026-09-11T06:42:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T06:42:34","slug":"press-releasekariba-dam-rehabilitation-project-kdrp","status":"publish","type":"zra_press_release","link":"http:\/\/139.84.241.235\/zra\/press-releases\/press-releasekariba-dam-rehabilitation-project-kdrp\/","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE:KARIBA DAM REHABILITATION PROJECT (KDRP)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


Lusaka, 21st July 2023<\/strong> \u2013 Works on the US$294.2 million- United States Dollar Kariba Dam  Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) are progressing well with works being 67% complete. The project, which comprises three components: the Reshaping of the Plunge Pool, Refurbishment of the  Spillway Upstream Control Facility and Institutional Strengthening, is projected to be completed  by the first quarter of 2025. Overall, the objective of the KDRP is to address dam safety concerns  and restore the structural integrity of the Kariba Dam for its long-term reliability and safety of  operation. Since construction, the Kariba Dam has served Zambia and Zimbabwe for over 60  years. The Zambezi River Authority is the implementing agent for all the three project  components.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progress on the Plunge Pool Reshaping works: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Plunge Pool Reshaping works contract, which is being undertaken by Razel Bec (a French  company), commenced in May 2017. Works on this component are now 78% complete. The  target date for completion of the plunge pool reshaping works is during the second quarter of  2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In total, 680 million litres of water have been pumped out of the Plunge Pool, leaving the current  water level in the pool at 320m Above Sea Level (ASL). Pumping out of the water, with the  resulting lowering of the pool level, paved way for the excavation works using controlled blasting  of the exposed rock. To date, approximately 137 000 cubic metres of rock has been excavated, out of a total of 300,000 cubic metres. The objective of the excavation is to widen the Plunge  Pool in keeping with the technical design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Contractor\u2019s current focus is on the following activities: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Bulk excavation of the rock mass around the Plunge Pool <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Haulage and disposal of the excavated rock at the designated dumpsite 3. Fault treatment\/repair works  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progress on the Spillway Refurbishment works: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spillway Refurbishment works contract commenced in November 2019 and is being  implemented by the Authority as the Employer and a Consortium of GE Hydro France with  Freyssinet International as the Contractor. The status of the project is that the works are at 57%  complete. The target date for completion of the Spillway Refurbishment works is during the first  quarter of 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project involves the replacement of defective guiderails on the upstream spillway control  facility to improve the operations of the six sluice gates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage, the works are proceeding as planned with the Contractor focusing on the following activities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Page 1 of 2 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Hydro-demolition of the secondary concrete around the old Built-in-Parts (BIPs) upstream of the Sluices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Concreting of BIPs in Sluices number 2 and 6 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Repair of surface cracks on the downstream end of sluice Number 3  4. Finalisation of the manufacture of the Emergency Gate (in China) and the Gantry Crane  (in South Africa).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Institutional Support: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Authority engaged the services of Gruner Stucky Limited (a Swiss company) as the  Technical Services and Supervision Consultant for the KDRP. Due to the unprecedented nature  of the works components of the KDRP, the Authority is further supported by a seven (7) member  Dam Safety Panel of Experts (DSPoE) which undertake bi-annual site visits and provide  guidance, recommendations and opinions to help resolve project execution challenges.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

KDRP Project Funding <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project is being funded through grants and loans made available to the Zambian and the  Zimbabwean Governments by the African Development Bank; the European Union; the  Government of Sweden and the World Bank. The Authority also contributes counterpart funds  on behalf of the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits to be derived by the Contracting States from the KDRP <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The overarching objective of the KDRP is to ensure the continued structural integrity of the  Kariba Dam wall. Completion of the KDRP works will benefit the communities in both Zambia  and Zimbabwe through a safer and reliable management of flood releases to avoid overtopping  of the Dam Wall. This will also minimize the risks of unregulated releases of water which could <\/p>\n\n\n\n

flood the downstream communities, resulting in damage to property and considerable loss of  lives, under worst case scenarios. Furthermore, a structurally sound Dam facilitates the  continued sustainable management of the impounded water to ensure continued availability of  water for hydropower generation which is a critical cog in the socio-economic development of  the Contracting States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Zambezi River Authority  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Zambezi River Authority is a Bi-National organization mandated to contribute to the  economic, industrial and social development of the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe by  obtaining the greatest possible benefits from the natural advantages offered by the waters of  the Zambezi River (between Zambia and Zimbabwe) through the most economical and effective  means of providing water for generation of electricity and for other purposes which the  Contracting States may decide upon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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ENG. MUNYARADZI. C. MUNODAWAFA <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHIEF EXECUTIVE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ends\/\/ – <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Issued by: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selusiwe Y. Sibanda <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manager – Public Relations and Communications <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lusaka, Zambia I Cell: +(260) 779 663 323 I Email: pr@zambezira.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

www.zambezira.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lusaka, 21st July 2023 \u2013 Works on the US$294.2 million- United States Dollar Kariba Dam  Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) are progressing well with works being 67% complete. The project, which comprises three components: the Reshaping of the Plunge Pool, Refurbishment of the  Spillway Upstream Control Facility and Institutional Strengthening, is projected to be completed  by the first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":62,"template":"","zra_press_release_category":[11],"class_list":["post-380","zra_press_release","type-zra_press_release","status-publish","hentry","zra_press_release_category-press-releases"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/139.84.241.235\/zra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/zra_press_release\/380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/139.84.241.235\/zra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/zra_press_release"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/139.84.241.235\/zra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/zra_press_release"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/139.84.241.235\/zra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"zra_press_release_category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/139.84.241.235\/zra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/zra_press_release_category?post=380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}