PROJECT # 0008

Zambia, Zimbabwe - Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Plant (BHES) & Transmission Lines

Batoka Gorge Hydro Electricity Scheme (BHES) is a 2.4 GW hydroelectric project located across the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River, around 54 km downstream of the Victoria Waterfall. Upon grid connection, the Batoka Gorge hydroelectric facility will strengthen the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), while providing reliable clean power supply at a competitive cost to both Zambia and Zimbabwe. The two countries signed a MoU in February 2012 to develop the project. The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), equally owned by both governments, will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the hydroelectric facility.

The facility will comprise a 181 m-high and 720 m-long roller compacted concrete (RCC) gravity arch dam, and two 1,200 MW surface power plants on the north and south banks of the Zambezi River. Each power plant will be equipped with six 200 MW hydro turbines. The electricity generated will be transmitted to Zambia and Zimbabwe. In Zambia, a 330 kV double-circuit transmission line will run from the Batoka North Bank power plant to the Zambia Electricity Supply Company’s (ZESCO) new substation at Livingstone (55 km), and a single-circuit transmission line will stretch to the Muzuma substation in Choma (170 km). In Zimbabwe, a 400 kV single-circuit transmission line will connect to the Hwange substation (70 km) and a double-circuit transmission line to the Chakari substation (400 km).