China To Build Hydroelectric Dam in Zambia

Aug. 17 (EIRNS)—Zambia signed an agreement Aug. 13 with two Chinese companies to build the Kafue Gorge Lower Power hydroelectric plant, according to Zambian Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane. The project will cost $1.5 billion.

Construction of the new power plant, Musokotwane said, would start in April 2011. The initial $1 billion will come from the Chinese. Zambia is joining with the China Africa Development Fund and Sino-Hydro to carry out the project, he added.

The Kafue Gorge project is to add 600 megawatts of power to the national grid in Zambia. Zambia recently also inked a contract with China to refurbish generation capacity in the Karibe dam. Zambia has been forced to import power, because there has been no investment in power generation for years.