Name and Location
Kariba South extension project, Zimbabwe.

Project Description
Kariba South is an underground powerhouse, consisting of six 125 MW vertical shaft Francis turbines.

The extension project will consist of two 150 MW vertical-axis Francis turbines, two three-phase step-up transformers and direct-coupled synchronous-type generators. Each generator is rated at 180 MVA, 50 Hz and 18 kV.

The facility will have a designed head of 89 m, a flow rate of 376 m³/s and a conventional submerged intake with trash racks and bulkhead gate slots. The surge chamber will be 60 m high with a diameter of 25 m.

The design also includes two 7-m-diameter concrete-lined low-pressure tunnels, two 7-m-diameter inclined or vertical shafts, two 6.5-m-diameter concrete-lined tunnels, two 6.5-m-diameter steel-lined penstock sections, and an underground powerhouse cavern about 24 m wide, 36 m high and 94 m long.

Value
The project is estimated to cost $400-million.

Duration
The project is expected to be completed in 2015.

Client
Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC).

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Hatch & Zimbabwe Infrastructure Development Group, or ZAIDG, (consulting engineer) and KPMG (financial adviser).

Latest Developments
Engineering, procurement and construction tender documents will be issued to the shortlisted bidders in November, followed by a four-month bidding period.

On Budget and on Time?
The project is in progress.

Contact Details for Project Information
Hatch, tel +1 905 855 7600, fax +1 905 855 8270 or email hatch@hatch.ca.
ZPC, tel +263 4 250 407/9, fax +263 4 794 828/702 840/794 827/794 820
or email info@zpc.co.zw.
KPMG, tel +27 11 647 7111 or fax +27 11 647 8000.
ZAIDG steering committee member Wingfield Vengesayi, email wtvengesayi@gmail.com.