By BUUMBA CHIMBULU in Zimbabwe
THE current on-going works at the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) have impressed its financiers who have described the project as a great example of international cooperation and multilateralism as well as one of its kind in Africa.
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A high powered delegation of financiers comprising the European Union (EU), World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and Sweden, among others yesterday undertook a site visit of the US$300 million project in Siavonga.
The delegation was particularly impressed with works done on the spillway gates and development of the Plunge Pool.
Speaking after the delegation toured the project, EU delegation Leader to Zambia and COMESA Ambassador Karolina Stasiak, said: “Today, we have seen one of the most impressive EU-funded engineering projects in Africa. This dam, its monitoring system or the cofferdam you see down there is European engineering at its best.”
Ms Stasiak noted that excavation works were progressing well and were completed at more than 80 percent, which meant that a volume of rock that could fill 100 Olympic-size swimming pools had already been blasted and hauled to the dumpsite.
She was convinced that access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy services was a prerequisite and an enabler for Zambia’s and Zimbabwe’s economic and social development.
For this, she said, more investments in infrastructures and in the renewable energy sector were needed.
“The EU is stepping up its offer to its partners with major investments in infrastructure development around the world. Between 2021 and 2027, Team Europe, meaning the EU institutions and EU member states and their financing institutions, will jointly mobilise up to EUR150 billion of investments to support large-scale projects in Africa through the new Global Gateway Investment Package, the “global arm of the European Green Deal,” Ms Stasiak said.
And the EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst Von Kirchmann was impressed with the works.
World Bank Country Manager for Zimbabwe, Eneida Fernandes who also spoked on behalf of the AfDB and the Swedish Embassy, noted the coordination and cooperation which had yielded positive progress resulting in over 80 percent progress on the Plunge Pool.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean Energy and Power Development Minister, Edgar Moyo, said successful completion of the project would contribute to energy security in the region.
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