The ambitious Batoka Hydropower Plant project, set to be developed on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is gearing up for a fresh start as officials announce its retendering. According to an official from the Zambezi River Authority, potential bidders are invited to submit their proposals by April 2025, marking a significant step forward for the long-awaited initiative.
Initially slated for construction in 2020, the Batoka Hydropower Plant has encountered formidable hurdles along the way, resulting in the cancellation of a contract previously awarded for its development. In a statement issued in June, Zambian Energy Minister Peter Kapala cited procedural irregularities as the rationale behind the termination of the 2019 contract with GE and Power China.
The proposed Batoka Hydro-electric Scheme (HES) is strategically located approximately 54 kilometers downstream of the iconic Victoria Falls, straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Conceived in 1972 as part of a comprehensive study commissioned by the precursor to the Zambezi River Authority, the project aims to harness the river’s immense potential to address the energy needs of both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Central to the Batoka Hydropower Plant design is a 181-meter-high, 720-meter-long roller-compacted concrete (RCC) gravity arch dam, featuring a radial-gated spillway. The reservoir, expected to cover an area of 23 square kilometers at full supply level (762 meters above sea level), is projected to store approximately 1.39 billion cubic meters of water. This vast reservoir will be fed through four intakes connected to four tunnels, each around one kilometer in length, directing water flow to two surface power plants situated downstream of the dam on opposite sides of the river bank.
With each power station boasting an installed capacity of 1,200 MW, the Batoka Hydropower Plant promises a combined output of 2,400 MW, marking a significant addition to the region’s energy infrastructure.
The retendering of the Batoka Hydropower Plant project signifies a renewed commitment to unlocking the Zambezi River’s hydroelectric potential and underscores the importance of sustainable energy development in the region. As prospective bidders prepare to vie for the opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking initiative, stakeholders remain hopeful that this endeavor will pave the way for enhanced energy security and economic growth in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and beyond.
Как подготовиться к прыжку с парашютом: советы от наших экспертов
прыжки с парашютом в тандеме спб https://www.pryzhki-s-parashyutom-v-spb.ru/ .