Govt reaffirms commitment to Batoka Gorge power scheme despite claims by opposition of project’s unsustainability

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (BGHES), dismissing claims questioning the project’s viability as unfounded and unsupported by technical or hydrological evidence.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Energy Minister, Makozo Chikote, Government responded to recent remarks by opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Emmanuel Mwamba, who raised doubts about the feasibility of the project.

While acknowledging the importance of public debate on national development, the Minister said the assertions made did not align with established power system planning principles or available data.

The Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme is a proposed 2,400-megawatt hydropower project on the Zambezi River, estimated to cost approximately US$5 billion.

It is being jointly developed by the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe through the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), in accordance with long-standing bilateral agreements on shared water resources.

Minister Chikote disclosed that at a Council of Ministers meeting held on December 29, 2025, the two countries resolved to each contribute US$220 million as equity towards the project.

He said the decision reflected strong political will, sovereign commitment and shared ownership, marking a significant milestone in advancing the project.

He further explained that the project had been restructured under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, with an emphasis on equity participation to enhance bankability and reduce reliance on debt.

The development process, he added, is being conducted through a transparent and competitive bidding framework.

Addressing concerns over water availability and climate change, the Minister noted that hydropower development along the Zambezi River follows a sequential and integrated approach.

Batoka Gorge, he said, was part of a broader hydropower system that includes Victoria Falls, Kariba North Bank and potential future developments such as Gonye Falls, allowing the same water to be used efficiently multiple times.

According to government, extensive feasibility studies incorporating climate change projections have confirmed that the Zambezi River system can sustainably support the planned 2,400 MW capacity.

The Batoka project is also expected to enhance water management at Kariba Dam by allowing increased storage during periods of high river flow, thereby improving electricity generation stability during droughts.

The Minister dismissed suggestions that large-scale hydropower development should instead be relocated to northern Zambia, stating that while some rivers in the region have reliable flows, the generally flat terrain limits their suitability for multi-gigawatt projects.

He added that such sites were more appropriate for small to medium run-of-river schemes and would require heavy investment in transmission infrastructure to evacuate power.

“The Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme remains technically sound, environmentally compliant, economically justified and central to Zambia’s long-term energy security,” he said.

Minister Chikote concluded by reiterating that government’s development agenda was inclusive and aimed at benefiting all regions of the country.

He added that government remained committed to building a diversified and resilient energy mix guided by research, data and national development priorities.

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