Zambia and Zimbabwe Advance Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme to Boost Climate-Resilient Power and Regional Energy Security

The Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe are advancing the Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (BGHES), a landmark 2,400 MW run-of-river hydropower project on the Zambezi River, aimed at strengthening long-term energy security, enhancing climate resilience, and supporting sustainable regional development.

BGHES is being developed as a strategic joint investment by the two governments and is designed to utilise natural river flows without large storage reservoirs, significantly reducing environmental and social impacts while aligning with global hydropower best practices.

Comprehensive feasibility, hydrological, and climate studies — supported by more than 100 years of Zambezi River flow data managed by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) — have confirmed the system’s ability to sustainably support Batoka as part of a coordinated cascade hydropower system. This integrated framework includes the existing Kariba Dam and future projects such as Devils Gorge and Mupata Gorge.

A key strength of the Batoka project lies in coordinated river basin management, enabling optimized water releases across multiple power stations, reducing operational pressure on Kariba, improving generation flexibility during dry periods, and maximizing energy output from each unit of water. This basin-wide operational model is widely recognized as international best practice for shared river systems, particularly under increasing climate variability.

Beyond its generation capacity, BGHES is expected to significantly enhance regional energy resilience by diversifying supply sources, reducing dependence on single reservoirs, and supporting coordinated power planning within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

Both governments have reaffirmed their strong policy and financial commitment to the project, including direct equity participation, to enhance bankability and attract private investment.

Once completed, the Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme is expected to serve as a system-level solution that integrates engineering excellence, sustainability, and regional cooperation, delivering reliable, low-carbon electricity to drive industrial growth and shared prosperity across Southern Africa.