Batoka Project to Generate Us$750m Annually
January 4, 2021
THE 2400MW Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme is set to generate around US$750 million annual revenue and spawn modern cities for Zimbabwe and Zambia.
This comes as the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), mandated to manage Lake Kariba, dam installations and Zambezi River which forms the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is finalising preparatory activities for the implementation of the project.
Hwange Rural District Council and Mukuni Development Trust in Zambia are expected to develop multi-million dollar cities around the project site while the project will also result in over 10 000 direct and indirect jobs.
The Zimbabwe Independent
MTHANDAZO NYONI
ZIMBABWE and Zambia are set to benefit from revenue of over US$750 million annually from the 2 400MW Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (BGHES) project – a bilateral venture between the two neighbouring countries, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has said.
ZRA is spearheading the project after engaging a consortium of Power China and General Electric in July 2019 for the construction of the BGHES project, which is estimated to cost up to US$5 billion.
The bilateral project is located within the Batoka Gorge, 47km downstream of the Victoria Falls. In an update on the disclosure of the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) studies report for the development of the project, ZRA chief executive Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the multi-billion dollar project will economically benefit the two countries.