Financial Gazette (Harare)
Shame Makoshori
8 May 2008
Harare — THE Zambezi River Authority (ZARA) plans to install new turbine water flow metering equipment at the Kariba Dam where the Kariba North and South power plants are located.
The power stations generate electricity for both Zambia and Zimbabwe, who jointly own ZARA.
The multi-billion dollar project is aimed at improving the safety of the dam through modern monitoring equipment as the double arch structure is having to contend with continuously rising water levels as a result of above average rains in the Zambezi basin, according to experts.
ZARA is responsible for the management of the Kariba Dam, including its safety and the protection of the environment.
The authority opened a tender this week for the supply and installation of equipment to bidders in the two countries.
It said bidders would be encouraged to take familiarisation tours at the giant power station, with the capacity to generate 1 320 megawatts of electricity.
"Tenders are invited for the supply and installation of turbine water flow metering equipment at Kariba North Bank and Kariba South Bank Power Stations respectively located at Kariba Dam," the authority said in a statement.
"Bidders wishing to visit the sites can do so..... to familiarise themselves with the existing conditions at the power stations," ZARA said.
The heavy rains that have been experienced in the Zambezi basin have resulted in levels of water in Lake Kariba rising, rendering it imperative not only for ZARA to release excess water downstream but to make sure the safety of the structure is guaranteed by installing modern equipment.
To minimise structural damage of the dam walls and mitigate the effects of flooding downstream of the lake, the authority opened the dam's spillway in February.
The concrete dam wall was constructed between 1950 and 1960.
It is 128 metres high and 579 metres long and is a source of wealth for players in power generation, tourism and fishing.
Lake Kariba, the water mass that has been created by the construction of dam wall, extends for up to 280 kilometres.
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