Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Project fraught with significant hurdles

The long-awaited Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Project, heralded as a potential solution to Zimbabwe and Zambia's ongoing power shortages, may face insurmountable challenges that could delay or derail its completion. The multi-billion-dollar project, which has been in the works since 1972, aims to harness the power of the Zambezi River to provide a much-needed boost to the energy grids of both countries. However, according to Zesa Holdings Executive Chairperson Sydney Gata, the project is fraught with significant hurdles, and its future remains uncertain.

Speaking at the ongoing Zimbabwe-Zambia Energy Projects Summit in Victoria Falls, Gata pointed out that while the Batoka Gorge project is touted as a solution to the persistent power outages in the two countries, it has not seen substantial progress over the decades. The project's capacity to generate 2,400 megawatts (MW) of electricity, which could help ease power shortages, is now in jeopardy due to unresolved technical and financial challenges.

"One of the reasons for the delay is that there has not been an exhaustive review of markets and hydrology," Gata said. "The project, as it stands today, will not work. There is also the issue of enforcement risk, stemming from the reconstitution of the Central African Power Corporation (Capco) and the formation of the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), a process that was not executed smoothly."

The Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Project, which has been discussed for over four decades, saw renewed interest in the past decade due to the debilitating power cuts affecting citizens and businesses across both Zimbabwe and Zambia. Currently, the countries experience power outages lasting up to 15 hours a day due to a combination of factors, including low water levels at the Kariba Dam, the largest power station in the region.

As of the latest reports, the Kariba power plants, with a total capacity of 1,050 MW, are only generating 124 MW, severely limiting the countries' ability to meet electricity demand. Gata highlighted that decisions on energy projects, such as Batoka, have often been made at a political level without due consultation with experts and technocrats.

"We've been advocating for more extensive studies and a more honest assessment of the project's feasibility," Gata said. "There are models and investment options that could help mitigate risks, but they need further evaluation. Batoka is a victim of load factor risk and load profile risk, which can be addressed with more detailed feasibility studies."

The Batoka Gorge project resurfaced on the agenda in 2014 after being hindered by political instability and financial difficulties. In 2021, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which oversees the Zambezi River and is jointly controlled by Zimbabwe and Zambia, revealed that the consortium awarded the contract for construction was struggling to secure sufficient funding, further delaying the project.

The project has been heralded as critical for addressing the electricity deficits in both countries, but the current challenges suggest that its timeline may extend far beyond the original projections. The ongoing issues with funding, political influence, and inadequate technical studies leave many questioning whether the Batoka Gorge project will ever come to fruition.

With power shortages still a pressing issue, both Zimbabwe and Zambia are left with few viable alternatives for securing a stable electricity supply in the near future. As the Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Project continues to face mounting obstacles, citizens and businesses in both countries remain hopeful for a breakthrough, but are increasingly skeptical of the project's viability.