Work on the $294 million Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) is progressing steadily with the plunge pool currently in the implementation phase and the spillway refurbishment works under procurement.

This was revealed at the 6th technical Joint Mission hosted by the Zambezi River Authority, which operates, maintains and manages the Kariba Dam on behalf of the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The project comprises two components which include the plunge pool reshaping and the refurbishment of the spillway.

Plunge pool

According to Eng. Munyaradzi Munodawafa, Chief Executive of the Zambezi River Authority the plunge pool reshaping is in the implementation phase following the appointment of the contractor, Razel-BEC, earlier this year.

Site establishment – the construction of the site offices, accommodation, workshops – is also well underway and the construction of the access road to the plunge pool is in the pipeline following the agreement on the proposed route of the road.

Spillway tender

The spillway refurbishment works is in the procurement phase with the tender launch date expected to be in December 2017, allowing for the works contract to be awarded by mid-2018, according to the current project schedule.

Commenting on the project Munodawafa says “The KDRP will take another eight years and is expected to be completed in 2025, as per the current project schedule.”

The joint missions, which include multiple stakeholders directly involved in the implementation of the KDRP, monitor and provide professional scrutiny and technical guidance from some of the world’s top experts to ensure it complies with international dam safety standards.