THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has successfully completed quality checks on Floodgate 1 of the Kariba Dam, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing dam rehabilitation programme.
The checks, which form part of the commissioning phase, involved releasing 1 500 cubic meters of water, equivalent to the power generated for about 30 seconds.
The Kariba Dam, a vital source of hydroelectric power for Zimbabwe and Zambia, has been undergoing rehabilitation work since 2019 to ensure its long-term stability and operational efficiency.
The dam’s importance cannot be overstated, as it provides electricity to millions of people in the two countries and supports their economic development.
According to ZRA planning officer Munesushe Mudzi, the tests are crucial in ensuring the dam’s stability and efficiency.
“We have done a test for source number 1, which is gate number 1,” he said.
“This is part of the quality checks that we do in the commissioning process. And this is not spilling, what we are just doing is doing the quality checks for the activities that we have been doing for the past five years.
“And it’s part of the quality checks that we do in the commissioning process that we are doing on the rehabilitation programme.”
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The rehabilitation programme aims to address the dam’s structural integrity and safety concerns, ensuring the continued benefits of hydroelectric power generation for the region.
The successful completion of the quality checks on Floodgate 1 is a positive step towards the program's objectives.
Mudzi said the ZRA’s efforts are critical in maintaining the dam’s integrity and ensuring the continued benefits of hydroelectric power generation for the region.
