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Planned Developments in the
Zambezi Basin
Proposed Dams and Hydropower Projects
Water has many critical roles in the realization
of socio-economic development in southern
Africa. One such role is to provide hydropower
to help the region to meet its ever-growing
demand for energy. SADC Member States,
through the Southern African Power Pool
(SAPP), have thus planned to commission a
number of hydropower projects in the Zambezi
River Basin. The Basin is considered to have
enormous capacity to produce sufficient power
for the region if fully harnessed.
SAPP estimates that the Zambezi River has
the potential to produce more than 20 000
Megawatts (MW) of electricity (Tauya 2006).
However, only 23 per cent of this potential
is being harnessed, largely from two main
sites: the Kariba Dam between Zambia and
Zimbabwe, and the Cahora Bassa Dam in
Mozambique (SARDC 2009c). To fully exploit its
potential, various projects have been identified
for commissioning in the Zambezi Basin.
Batoka Gorge Hydropower Station
The Batoka gorge is located about 50 km
downstream of Victoria Falls between Zambia
and Zimbabwe. When operational, it has the
capacity to produce up to 1 600 MW. National
power utilities from the two countries are ready
to begin work on the project. However, limited
funding, environmental concerns and technical
challenges have stalled the process. Zambia and
Zimbabwe have also identified other sites on the
Zambezi River fromwhich they could jointly tap
electricity. These sites include the Devils Gorge
(1 200 MW), Mutapa Gorge (1 085 MW) and
Victoria Falls South (390 MW) (Tumbare, 2005).
Figure 5.3
0
200
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
200
400
Existing site
Victoria Falls
Potential site
Source: SADC and ZRA 2007. Rapid Assessment Report: IntegratedWater Resources Management Strategy for the Zambezi River Basin. SADCWater Division, Gaborone
600
Distance from Victoria falls (kilometres)
Existing and potential hydropower projects on the Zambezi River
Elevation
above sea
level
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
Zambezi River
Batoka gorge
Devils gorge
Kariba dam
Mupata gorge
Chaora Bassa
Table 5.1. Rehabilitation and Planned Energy Projects in the Zambezi Basin
Source: Musaba 2012
Angola
Botswana
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Projected Generation Capacity, MW
2011
150
120
-
-
23
60
-
290
2012
150
120
-
-
23
60
-
290
2013
150
120
-
-
23
60
-
290
2014
150
120
-
-
23
60
-
290
2015
150
120
-
-
23
60
-
290
Total
150
120
-
-
23
60
-
290