The project proponents are the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe with lead agents being the
Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) for the dam development and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority
(ZESA) and Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) for the south and north bank power station
developments respectively. Feasibility studies were concluded in 1993, financed by the AfDB and
supplemented by site/foundation exploratory works financed by the Zimbabwe Government. The
next project development stage is final designs to be conducted in 2013 and tendering for
construction in 2014. Construction of the dam and power stations is expected to start in 2015 and
will be completed by 2021.
The estimated total project costs are US$4 billion. The project can be considered to be in Phase 4 of
the ICA Project Development Phases. Possible project financiers are the AfDB, DBSA and the World
Bank.
The major project challenges include:
Obtaining final approval to proceed with the project from both governments; and
Timely sourcing of project finances.
Songwe River Basin Development Programme (Project RG‐4)
The overall goal of the Songwe River Basin Development Programme (SRBDP) is to contribute to
improved living conditions of the basin population and the socio‐economic development in Malawi
and Tanzania. The specific objective is to prepare designs and joint investment projects for
implementation, and to create an effective enabling environment for trans‐boundary water
resources management in the Songwe River Basin. The project is structured in five components:
1. Preparation of a shared vision towards 2050 and a 10‐year SRBDP;
2. Detailed design and preparation of priority investments as a major task;
3. Environmental and social safeguarding of the SRBDP by means of a strategic environmental and
social assessment and environmental and social impact assessment for the programme;
4. Establishment of a Songwe River Basin Authority and associated IWRM capacity building at local
level; and
5. Support to project management and resource mobilisation for the implementation of capital
investments under the programme.
With regards to water sector infrastructure development projects, the SRBDP will construct the
lower dam with a capacity of 10 x 106 m3, which will irrigate some 200 ha and also generate about
153 MW. It is estimated that the project will benefit some 250 000 people who will also have
improved water supply and sanitation services.
The project proponents are the governments of Malawi and Tanzania. Feasibility studies were
concluded in 1994, financed by the AfDB. The next project development stage is final designs to be
conducted from 2012 to 2013 and tendering for construction in 2014. Implementation and
construction of the associated project components is expected to start in 2015 and will be completed
in 2021.
The estimated total project costs are US$328 million. The project can be considered to be in Phase 4
of the ICA Project Development Phases. Possible project financiers are the AfDB, Sida and the World
Bank.
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