Kariba Dam Booklet-Web
Kariba Dam Booklet-Web
Kariba Dam Booklet-Web
AUTHORITY
RESTORING AN ICON
ZAMBEZI RIVER
AUTHORITY
Constructed across the Zambezi River between 1956 and 1959 as a hydro-elec-
tric scheme to provide energy and support the economic development
of Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Kariba Dam has played a significant role in
Zambia and Zimbabwe and across the region for almost 60 years. Having
done its duty well, the dam now requires rehabilitation to ensure its long-
term efficient operation into the future. The Zambezi River Authority, on
behalf of the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and with the financial
support of the European Union, the African Development Bank, the Swedish
Government and the World Bank, embarked on the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation
Programme in 2015. We are confident of its successful completion in 2025.
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
– An Overview
After 60 years of serving the people of Zimba- Large scale engineering works like the KDRP
bwe and Zambia, routine monitoring of the Ka- take several years and the KDRP is no excep-
riba Dam has identified the need for rehabilita- tion to this. From the start of the planning,
tion works to ensure the dam’s longevity and its funding mobilisation and procurement process
continued contribution to energy security and to the completion of the works, the KDRP will
economic prosperity in the region. take ten years taking into account the need to
continue operating the dam safely with minimal
The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) interruptions to power generation during the
comprises the reshaping of the plunge pool rehabilitation project.
to limit the scouring and erosion of the natural
rock floor of the plunge pool, and the refurbish- The plunge pool reshaping commenced in
ing of the spillway gates to secure the dam’s February 2017 with the construction contract
operations in accordance with international signing ceremony and according to the current
dam safety standards. project programme, the KDRP will be com-
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
pleted in 2025 when the rehabilitation of the
spillway gates is completed.
Plunge Pool Contract Signing – EU Ambassador, Plunge Pool Contract Signing – Zambezi River
Zambian Treasury Secretary and Contractor Authority CE delivers plunge pool overview
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
KDRP TIMELINE
2014
KDRP funding secured
2015
Procurement commenced. Stucky
Limited appointed supervising engineer
2016
Review of designs, tender
documents, ESIA, EPP and OMP
2017
Plunge pool works contract signed.
Work on site commences
2018
Spillway refurbishment works
procurement launched
2019
Spillway refurbishment works contract
signed. Work on site commences
2023
Plunge pool implementation
period concluded
2025
Spillway refurbishment
works completed
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
RESHAPING THE PLUNGE POOL
The natural river bed downstream of the dam has monitoring of the dam infrastructure, have rec-
eroded over time as a result of the heavy spillage ommended rehabilitation works to the plunge
of flood waters, particularly in the dam’s early pool to enhance its stability and prevent further
years, to form a deep plunge pool. deepening and backward scour towards the dam
foundation.
The Zambezi River Authority has monitored the
performance of the dam infrastructure, including WHY RESHAPE THE PLUNGE POOL?
the plunge pool, since its impoundment in 1958. Excavating the downstream end of the plunge
The unit has implemented routine interventions pool will increase its size and reduce the pressure
to slow the expected erosion of the plunge pool’s that the water spilling into the plunge pool exerts
natural rock floor. This includes controlling the on its base thereby slowing the erosion of the
volume of spillage by opening fewer of the sluice natural rock floor.
gates at a time. The construction of the second
power station in the late 1970s also reduced the Reducing the slope of the downstream end of the
spillage as more water was diverted for power plunge pool will decrease the amount of swirling
generation than before. As a result, the natural and ensure the smooth flow of water out of the
erosion has slowed and no significant changes pool and into the river.
to the plunge pool floor have been recorded in
the last 15 years. Reinforcing the wall of the plunge pool will
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
strengthen and stabilize it.
WHAT DO THE PLUNGE
POOL WORKS ENTAIL?
The works on site, which follow the procurement
and documentation phase of the project, include:
site installation; the construction of permanent
and plunge pool access roads; the construction of
a coffer dam and dewatering of the plunge pool;
the excavation works and fault treatment; refilling
the plunge pool and the demolition of the coffer
dam on completion of the works.
Head of EU Infrastructure Development Adam Road overlooking plunge pool project site from
Grodzicki (c) and Contractor tour KDRP site Lake Kariba North Bank
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
REFURBISHING THE SPILLWAY
The six sluice gates in the upper part of the external consultants who undertake five-yearly
concrete dam wall together form the spillway inspections of the dam’s infrastructure, have also
through which water is released into the plunge recommended that a movable back-up gate be
pool to manage the reservoir water levels. installed on the upstream side of the dam wall as
an additional safeguard to be used should any of
Over time, concrete exposed to water expands. the gates jam.
This minimal expansion is natural and is expected.
However, expansion over a long period of time –
as in the case of the Kariba Dam which is 60 years
old - can affect the smooth opening and closing
of the gates and possibly cause the spillway gates
to jam in open position.
Since its impoundment in 1958, the Zambezi
River Authority has monitored the performance
of the dam infrastructure in accordance with the
Standard Operations Procedure. This routine mon-
itoring and management of the spillway system
has resulted in the recommendation that the six
spillway gates be refurbished to ensure their con-
tinued full operability in the long term. In addition,
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
PLAN OF SPILLWAY
WHY REFURBISH THE SPILLWAY? dry; works in the sluice; spilling and remobiliza-
tion; the installation of the gantry crane, beams
The spillway refurbishment will mitigate poten-
and rails and commissioning.
tial risk to the operation of the spillway and will
enable the Zambezi River Authority to continue The spillway refurbishment is expected to take
to manage the water levels in the reservoir effec- approximately five years. The procurement of
tively and guarantee the safety of the dam for the contractor to undertake the spillway works is
many more years. underway with the appointment expected to be
made towards the end of 2018 or early in 2019.
WHAT DOES THE REFURBISHMENT
ENTAIL? WHO IS FUNDING THE SPILLWAY
REFURBISHMENT?
Following the procurement and documentation
phase of the spillway refurbishment, the works The works will be financed by the World Bank,
will include fabrication; site mobilization; pre- the African Development Bank and the Swedish
paratory works on the sluice gates; the installa- government through loans and grants to the
tion of a coffer dam to allow sluice works in the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
SPILLWAY REHABILITATION:
COFFERDAM CONSTRUCTION
Top suspension beam
Intermediate
support beams
Sill Seal
Lower support
and locating beam
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
Zambezi Valley Development Fund (ZVDF) projects
Social, Environmental
and Economic Impact
The plunge pool and spillway refurbishment will
have minimal negative impact on communities
and the environment in the region of the dam.
Rather, the works will bring some benefits to local
communities, creating jobs for unskilled and semi-
skilled workers, ensuring skills and technology
Choompwe borehole (Zambia) transfer, while the influx of people into the area
will stimulate local businesses.
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
DID YOU KNOW
FACT FACT
The dam is a double curvature
01 The dam has the capacity to
hold 181 billion cubic metres concrete arch dam, 128m high and
with a crest length of 617m.
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of water.
FACT The Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe Jointly owned by the governments of FACT
02 have mobilized nancing in the form of
grants and loans from the African
Zambia and Zimbabwe, and managed on
their behalf by the Zambezi River Authority, 08
Development Bank(US$75m), the European the Kariba complex is a ne example of
Union (EURO 64m), the Government of bilateral cooperation between two
Sweden (US$ 25m), and the World Bank sovereign states in the management of a
(US$75m) to support the ZRA ‘s shared watercourse.
implementation of the project.
FACT For 60 years the Kariba Dam has been The total cost of the KDRP works, which FACT
03 central to regional energy security and
economic development.
will take 10 years to complete, is
estimated at US$294 million.
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FACT Lake Kariba is the largest man-made Lake Kariba supplies water to two FACT
04 reservoir in the world by volume. Measuring
approximately 280 km from East to West
underground hydropower stations with a
total capacity of 2,130 MW generating 10
and up to 40 km wide, it covers almost 5 more than 10,035 GWh of electricity
600 square kilometres. annually. It is the largest provider of
electricity to Zimbabwe and Zambia.
FACT The North Bank Power Station is operated The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project FACT
05 by ZESCO Ltd in Zambia and has an
installed capacity of 1,080 MW.
(KDRP) consists of two components: the
reshaping the plunge pool and the
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refurbishment of the ood gates.
FACT FACT
06 The South Bank Power Station is operated
by Zimbabwe Power Company in Zimbabwe
The Kariba Dam was constructed across
the Zambezi River, the fourth largest river 12
and currently has an installed capacity of 750 in Africa, between 1956 and 1959 and
MW, with projects underway to increase this commissioned in 1960.
to 1,050 MW.
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
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The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project
ZAMBEZI RIVER
AUTHORITY