Project title
Piloting synchronised and conjunctive operation of dams for flood and drought
mitigation, improved energy generation and livelihoods and provision of water for
the environment in the Zambezi River Basin (Project GP‐10)
Project sponsors
The project proponent is the ZAMCOM Secretariat with the dam operators of the
Kariba, Itezhi‐Tezhi, Kafue and Cahora Bassa dams being the lead and implementing
agencies.
Participating countries
Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Objectives
To demonstrate the benefits of conjunctive and synchronised dam operations
in respect to increased hydropower generation, flood and drought control,
improved riparian livelihoods and the provision of water to meet
environmental needs; and
To build confidence in synchronised and conjunctive operation of dams, while
providing valuable lessons and experiences for improvements and future
replication in other SADC river basins.
Project description
The major dams of the Zambezi River Basin have, to date, generally been operated
independently, without regard to the requirements of other stakeholders. Except
for the Kafue dams, all the other dams have been managed without any provision
for environmental flows and other socio‐economic considerations for downstream
or other riparian users. Floods and droughts are part of the history of the Zambezi
with and without dams. Dams impound floods and modify downstream flows and
the lake environment. However, releases can be managed to minimise upstream
and downstream impacts (SADC 2011). The need to widen the range of possible
flow regimes in the Zambezi River system downstream and upstream of major dams
in order to provide for more uses/users was established during the Zambezi Dam
Synchronisation and Flood Releases Study (SADC 2011). The goals of system
optimisation, water security and benefit sharing were also discussed in detail.
Synchronisation and conjunctive operation are two terms, which are very closely
associated with modern scientific trends in dam management to achieve these
goals. There is need to demonstrate that dam synchronisation, conjunctive
operation of dams and introduction of environmental flows in the Zambezi River
Basin is achievable and beneficial. Dam operators and other stakeholders require
support to set up and implement a practical pilot project, which builds confidence
in synchronised and conjunctive operation of dams, while providing valuable
lessons and experiences for improvements and future replication in other SADC
River Basins (SADC 2011).
Expected results
One of the expected outcomes of the pilot project would be that the dam operators
of the main dams in the Zambezi River Basin would negotiate and agree to operate
their dams for optimal outcomes, which include addressing flood and drought
management and environmental flow requirements. Operating the Kariba dam,
dams on the Kafue sub‐system and Cahora Bassa dam in a conjunctive and
synchronised manner would result in optimum hydropower production, dam safety,
supply of water to other users, including the environment, and reduced flood
damage upstream and downstream of these major dams.
Ongoing related activities in the This will be one of the first such full‐scale pilot projects in SADC region.
region
Description of national plan to the The dam operators of the Zambezi River Basin will be the focus implementers of this
project
project in consultation with their parent government ministries.
Status
The project can be considered to be in Phase 3 of the ICA Project Development
Phases.
Next steps
The expected next stages for this pilot project would be:
Undertaking a feasibility study for the pilot project;
Implementation of a pilot project involving Kariba, dams on the Kafue sub‐
system and Cahora Bassa Kariba dam, dams on the Kafue sub‐system and
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