ZAMBEZI RIVER
AUTHORITY
Water! Today, Tomorrow!
PRESS RELEASE
ZAMBEZI RIVER AUTHORITY APPEALS FOR CALM ON THE KARIBA
DAM WALL STORY
Following reports in the local and international media on the status of
the Kariba Dam Wall, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) would like to inform the
general public and all stakeholders that the Kariba Dam Wall is in a stable
state.
ZRA regrets the misinterpretation on the facts about the Kariba Dam Wall
impending collapse which caused alarm among stakeholders and the public in
general. While the situation at the Kariba Dam Wall is cause for grave concern,
the engineers on the ground have the situation under control. This does not
translate to an immediate calamity. However, all urgency is expected in order
to avert any such catastrophe as dam failure.
The information carried in the media emanated from a co-operating
partners’ conference held on 12 March, 2014 in Livingstone, Zambia to mobilize
funds for the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam Wall.
The information denotes the scenarios that could possibly occur should
ZRA fail to carry out maintenance and monitoring on the dam wall. ZRA carries
out inspections and surveys twice a year on the Kariba Dam. In addition,
every five years, a special safety inspection is undertaken with experts from
France who were involved in the original design of the dam, with the last inspection
having been undertaken in 2010. Other ad hoc inspections are conducted from
time to time when required.
Furthermore, there are several instruments in the dam wall which measure
stress, any changes or movement in the wall, water pressure and drainage. These
are continually inspected and have remained intact over the last 54 years.
In recent years, concern has been raised over the safety of the Kariba
Dam wall which was built over 50 years ago. The dam wall now requires a series
of rehabilitation works in order to avoid gradual degradation of key dam safety
features while maintaining operations levels acceptable in accordance with
international operating standards.
In its five year strategic plan (2010-2014) ZRA had identified “Undertaking
critical dam maintenance programs” as one of its objectives in that period.
These are being undertaken while a lasting solution is being sought, hence the
co-operating partners’ meeting to raise funds for the major rehabilitation
works which are:
I.
Plunge
Pool Re-shaping. The plunge pool which is immediately downstream of the dam
wall requires re-shaping and stabilization to limit scouring and erosion that
could undermine the dam foundation, leading to dam failure.
II.
Spillway
Refurbishment. This involves designing, fabrication and installation of an
emergency gate and a new gantry to prevent uncontrolled loss of water in the
event of floodgate failure, which would result in water levels dropping below
the minimum operational levels and interrupting power production.
III.
Refurbishment
of the upstream stop-beam guides and replacement of secondary concrete to
prevent failure during operation of stop-beams.
To ensure concerted efforts in resource mobilization for the critical
works and other projects, the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, through its
Council of Ministers (COM) meeting, appointed a resource mobilization committee
(RMC).
It is with this background that the co-operating partners took a keen
interest in the project and agreed to identify financial options, including
timelines.
The Kariba Complex is central to the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP)
with 3200MW of the 50 000MW capacity translating to 15% of SAPP total power
output. 50% of the Zambia/Zimbabwe energy output is equivalent to Angola’s
total needs and double Namibia’s needs. (WB Report 2010).
The humanitarian implication at 273km3 of flood water ( 185km3
from Kariba Dam and 52km3 from Caborra Bassa) would be four times
the largest recorded release at 61km3 over 90 days during the 1958/59
Kariba Dam Construction.
ZRA is currently updating its Emergency Preparedness Plan for the Lower
Zambezi and also enhancing its internal processes and procedures for
preparedness.
ZRA takes this opportunity to re-assure the public and all our stakeholders
that there is no need to panic as the situation is under control. ZRA will
continue to fulfill its mandate of monitoring, maintenance and corrective
measures to protect the dam and ensure its safety.
-END-
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Karonga
Public Relations & Communications Manager
Zambezi River Authority
Zim Cell +263 773002978; Zam Cell: +260 977 318735
Direct Line +260 211 230551
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