The Zimbabwe government says work on the construction of the Batoka Gorge hydroelectric scheme, on the Zambezi river, will mostly likely begin at the end of 2014, following the conclusion of feasibility studies and the project’s designs.

Zambezi River Authority spokesperson Elizabeth Kanonga says the authority has invited bids for the construction of the dam, which is a joint venture between the governments of Zimbabwe and Zambia. She says it will take at least seven years to complete the project.

Zimbabwe has already completed the construction of a new road that links the site to the nearby tourist resort of Victoria Falls and is waiting for Zambia to complete its own preparations for the resumption of site works. Kanonga says the project has been delayed for years, owing to a diplomatic dispute between Zambia and Zimbabwe over payments that Zimbabwe owed its neighbour related to projects implemented when Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malalwi comprised a federation that ended in 1963.

“The Zimbabwe and Zambia governments have agreed on the need to set aside their differences emanating from the dispute over payments on the Kariba dam and we have had commitment from both President Robert Mugabe and President Michael Sata to expedite the project,” says Kanonga.

The Batoka dam will be located upstream of Lake Kariba and will stretch for 54 km. According to feasibility studies, each of the two countries will get 800 MW of electricty when the station starts generating power after 2021.

Zimbabwe has had a power deficit for years, but it has worsened progressively since the beginning of the year. The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority has warned that, without new invest- ments in power generation, the crisis will worsen and hit all sectors of industry. The country has an installed generation capacity of 1 320 MW, compared with peak demand of 2 200 MW. The ongoing maintenance works at the Kariba and Hwange power stations, scheduled for completion in February 2014, have reduced the two facilities’ combined generation capacity from 1 450 MW to 880 MW.

Apart from the Batoka hydropower scheme, Zimbabwe has contracted China Machinery & Energy Corporation to expand two power generating units at the Hwange thermal power station. It has also contracted Sino Hydro for the expansion of the Kariba South hydropower station to give the country an additional 900 MW. Both projects will be completed in the next four years.