By Talkmore Gandiwa
HARARE – The Zambezi River Authority says the multi-million-dollar rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam has reached advanced stages, with the overall dam rehabilitation programme now 94% complete while the critical Spillway Refurbishment Project has attained 99% completion.
The authority said the ambitious rehabilitation programme, which is central to safeguarding the long-term structural integrity, safety and operational efficiency of the Kariba Dam, remains on track for full completion by the end of the fourth quarter of 2026.
Valued at approximately US$294 million, the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) comprises three major components designed to secure the future functionality of one of Southern Africa’s most strategic hydropower assets.
The authority said the Spillway Refurbishment component is being implemented in two phases, with the second phase expected to commence by June 2026.
“The purpose of the Spillway Refurbishment project component under the KDRP was mainly to restore and improve the reliability, safety and functionality of the Kariba Dam’s spillway system,” the authority said.
Phase One of the Spillway Refurbishment works, which commenced in May 2019, has now reached 99% completion.
The works are being carried out by GE Hydro France in association with Freyssinet International and involve the rehabilitation of the upstream control systems for all six sluice gates at the dam.
The rehabilitation programme includes hydro-demolition works, concrete repairs, installation of Built-In Parts (BIP), rewatering processes and commissioning of rehabilitated sluices.
According to the authority, the refurbishment became necessary after decades of natural wear and structural aging affected the smooth operation of the sluice gates.
“Over the six decades of the existence of the Kariba Dam, natural processes like concrete expansion and aging due to a phenomenon referred to as alkali aggregate reaction affected the six sluice gates by making them more difficult to open and close smoothly,” the authority said.
“The refurbishment was therefore intended to restore their full operability and reliability.”
The second phase of the Spillway Refurbishment works, which began in August 2024, has reached approximately 70% completion and is expected to be fully completed by September 2026.
These works are being undertaken by the Morris and Stub Engineers Joint Venture (Morris Stub JV).
The current phase focuses largely on electro-mechanical upgrades involving the design, manufacture and installation of new hoisting systems for all six sluice gates, alongside extensive gate maintenance works.
The authority said the design, manufacturing and site delivery of all six hoisting systems were completed in 2025, paving the way for installation works that commenced in December 2025.
“Currently, the hoisting system installations for sluices number 1, 2, 5 and 6 are in progress,” the authority said.
The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project is regarded as one of the most critical infrastructure rehabilitation programmes in the region due to the dam’s strategic role in electricity generation for both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Situated on the Kariba Dam, the dam supplies hydroelectric power to the two neighbouring countries and remains a cornerstone of regional energy security and industrial development.
The project is funded by the African Development Bank, the European Union, the Government of Sweden and the World Bank while the Governments of the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe provide counterpart funding
The project consists of three major components namely Plunge Pool Reshaping, Spillway Refurbishment and Institutional Strengthening.
The Plunge Pool Reshaping component, considered one of the most technically demanding aspects of the project, was successfully completed and commissioned in September 2024.
That component involved reshaping the plunge pool at the base of the dam wall to prevent further erosion that threatened the stability of the structure.
Meanwhile, the Institutional Strengthening component is aimed at enhancing dam safety monitoring systems, improving technical capacity and strengthening governance structures within the authority.
To date, the authority says key milestones achieved under the rehabilitation programme include the successful completion of the plunge pool reshaping works, completion of Spillway Phase One and ongoing implementation of Phase Two electro-mechanical upgrades.
With completion now within sight, the rehabilitation programme is expected to significantly extend the lifespan of the Kariba Dam while strengthening operational reliability and improving regional energy security for decades to come.
