Kariba Dam
| Kariba Dam | |
|---|---|
The dam as seen from Zimbabwe
|
|
| Location |
Zambia Zimbabwe |
| Coordinates | 16°31′23.5″S 28°45′41.55″E / 16.523194°S 28.7615417°ECoordinates: 16°31′23.5″S 28°45′41.55″E / 16.523194°S 28.7615417°E |
| Construction began | 1955 |
| Opening date | 1960 |
| Construction cost | US$480 million |
| Owner(s) | Zambezi River Authority |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Arch dam |
| Impounds | Zambezi River |
| Height | 128 m (420 ft) |
| Length | 579 m (1,900 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Kariba |
| Total capacity | 180 km3 (150,000,000 acre·ft) |
| Catchment area | 663,000 km2 (256,000 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 5,400 km2 (2,100 sq mi) |
| Maximum length | 280 km (170 mi) |
| Maximum water depth | 97 m (318 ft) |
| Power station | |
| Turbines |
North: 4 x 150 MW (200,000 hp), 2 x 180 MW (240,000 hp) Francis-type South: 6 x 111 MW (149,000 hp) Francis-type |
| Installed capacity |
North: 960 MW South: 666 MW Total: 1,626 MW (2,181,000 hp) |
| Annual generation | 6,400 GWh (23,000 TJ) |
The Kariba Dam is a double curvature concrete arch dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The dam stands 128 metres (420 ft) tall and 579 metres (1,900 ft) long. The dam forms Lake Kariba which extends for 280 kilometres (170 mi) and holds 185 cubic kilometres (150,000,000 acre·ft) of water.
The double curvature concrete arch dam was designed by Coyne et Bellier and constructed between 1955 and 1959 by Impresit of Italy at a cost of $135,000,000 for the first stage with only the Kariba South power cavern. Final construction and the addition of the Kariba North Power cavern by Mitchell Construction was not completed until 1977 due to largely political problems for a total cost of $480,000,000. During construction, 86 men lost their lives.
The Kariba Dam supplies 1,626 megawatts (2,181,000 hp) of electricity to parts of both Zambia (the Copperbelt) and Zimbabwe and generates 6,400 gigawatt-hours (23,000 TJ) per annum. Each country has its own power station on the north and south bank of the dam respectively. The south station belonging to Zimbabwe has been in operation since 1960 and has six generators of 111 megawatts (149,000 hp) capacity each for a total of 666 megawatts (893,000 hp).
On November 11, 2013 It was announced by Zimbabwe's Finance Minister, Patrick Chinamasa that capacity at the Zimbabwean (South) Kariba hydropower station would be increased by 300 megawatts. The cost of upgrading the facility has been supported by a $319m loan from China. The deal is a clear example of Zimbabwe's "Look East" policy which was adopted after falling out with Western powers. Construction on the Kariba South expansion began in mid-2014 and is expect to be complete in 2019.
The north station belonging to Zambia has been in operation since 1976, and has four generators of 150 megawatts (200,000 hp) each for a total of 600 megawatts (800,000 hp); work to expand this capacity by an additional 360 megawatts (480,000 hp) to 960 megawatts (1,290,000 hp) was completed in December 2013. Two additional 180 MW generators were added.
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Wikipedia