By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
THE Government has completed updating the feasibility study on the Batoka Hydro-Power project to ascertain if the project has potential to generate more power than the 1,650 megawatts initially projected.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary Charity Mwansa said the Government had completed updating the feasibility study on joint power project and would soon be advertising for expression of interest.
“The feasibility study on the Batoka hydro-power project has been concluded and soon we will be going for expression of interest,” Ms Mwansa said.
Zambia and Zimbabwe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to team up and start the Batoka Hydro-Power project which is estimated to cost about US$4 billion.
Once completed, the project would increase generation capacity. The Batoka hydro concept was conceived in 1972 out of a study instituted by the predecessor of Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), the Central African Power Corporation (CAPCO).
Plans for the project were initially mooted in 1993, but the Zambian government was reluctant because of the outstanding debts which it wanted Zimbabwe to clear first.
However, the Zimbabwe Government agreed to pay off more than US$70 million it owed Zambia for the sale of the CAPCO assets which were jointly owned by the two countries, thereby giving a go ahead for the project to take off.
