Published: 22 November 2013

A top Brazilian construction firm, Andrade Gutierrez (AG) has expressed interest in developing the Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Project being implemented by Zimbabwe and Zambia to increase electricity generation capacity in the two countries.

The project, to cost at least $3 billion, is expected to yield 1 600 MW of electricity to be shared equally between the two countries, the New Ziana reported.

Speaking soon after meeting Acting President Joice Mujuru here on Thursday, AG Energy commercial director Dieter Hopf said the company would bid for the tender to construct the power station.

"We will prepare a comprehensive proposal for this project," he said.

"I think we have a very good chance to be successful because Brazil is one of the major hydro powered countries in the world. We have 70 percent of our energy produced from hydro power, there are about 100 000 MW of installed power so we have all the technology available to build a very efficient installation at Batoka."

Recently, Zimbabwe and Zambia completed constructing access roads to the gorge on both sides of the borders.

The project involves the construction of a dam and a hydro-power plant on the Zambezi River, about 54 kilometres downstream of the Victoria Falls.

Construction work is expected to start at the end of next year and is envisaged to take at least seven years to complete.

Hopf said his team would also explore other areas of investment in various sectors of Zimbabwe's economy.

- New Ziana

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