THE US$31,75 million Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), has entered its final phase following the completion of critical safety works, with the remaining spillway upgrades expected to enhance the dam’s long-term reliability.
The project is designed to strengthen the structural integrity of the Kariba Dam, protect millions of people living downstream, and ensure sustained electricity generation for Zimbabwe and Zambia.
AfDB’s March 2026 implementation report rated progress toward the project’s development objectives as satisfactory, noting that most key engineering works have already been completed.
According to the bank, the project focuses on two major components: reshaping the dam’s plunge pool and rehabilitating its spillway system.
The plunge pool — a deep basin at the base of the spillway that dissipates the force of high-energy water — was reshaped to reduce the impact of discharged water and prevent bedrock erosion that could undermine the dam’s foundations and potentially lead to structural failure.
Meanwhile, the spillway — a critical dam structure designed to safely release excess water from the reservoir — is being rehabilitated to prevent operational failures.
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From the US$31,75 million loan approved for the government of Zimbabwe in 2015, 36,07% of the funds remain undisbursed.
“The project will rehabilitate the spillway gates to avoid possible jamming in the open or closed positions, both of which would result in dam failure and catastrophic regional loss of lives, livelihoods, assets and power,” AfDB said in the new Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project update report.
The bank confirmed that the plunge pool works were completed in December 2024.
“The energy dissipation system for the dam has therefore been strengthened to ensure that the dam foundations are protected from any further erosion,” AfDB said.
Significant progress has also been recorded on the spillway component despite technical challenges.
“The spillway phase one overall progress is 99,9%. Following the achievement of 100% completion at the plunge pool, the risk of dam failure due to foundation damage is now mitigated. Spillway phase two rehabilitation has advanced to 50% despite the risk of interface management with phase one,” AfDB said.
Once the spillway rehabilitation works are completed, the project is expected to extend the dam’s lifespan by at least 50 years and improve the safety of more than three million people living downstream.
The report added that the Kariba Dam Complex has the capacity to generate 2 130 megawatts of electricity, subject to water availability in the reservoir.
Completion of the plunge pool has already reduced the risk of power generation disruptions caused by potential dam foundation failure.
AfDB said full completion of the spillway works would further reduce the risk of structural failure and power supply interruptions.
“The complex will increase the number of years during which annual generation capacity of 10 000GWh could be generated sustainably,” AfDB said.
However, the project still faces a technical hurdle.
“The immediate challenge and critical activity are to rectify the misalignment of the gantry and lifting devices on the spillway and complete the final commissioning,” AfDB said.
Once completed, the rehabilitation programme will enhance the dam’s safety, strengthen operational reliability, and secure long-term water storage and electricity generation for the region.