Work is expected to begin this year to repair deformities and cracks in the dam wall at Kariba Dam between Zimbabwe and Zambia after $294 million in funding was secured, newswires have reported.
A series of assessments identified flaws in the dam, which, if not addressed, could threaten the integrity of the structure. According to AFP, the European Union, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the Swedish government have all agreed to fund the renovation work in a project that could take up to 10 years to complete.
Located on the Zambezi River, Kariba Dam is home to two hydropower projects – a 750MW scheme that provides power to Zimbabwe and a 600MW plant that generates electricity for Zambia. The dam was built between 1956 and 1959.
