The Zambezi River Authority has shortlisted three firms for the construction of the 2 400 megawatt Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric plant being jointly pursued by Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The three developers shortlisted include; Salini Impregilo of Italy and a consortium of General Electric of USA and Power Corporation of China.

“Launch of Request for Proposals will be in April 2019. Appointment of Developer will be in September 2019,” read part of the communiqué.

The Zambezi River Authority has said preparatory studies for the project were going on and would be completed within the first quarter of the year.

“The three preparatory studies which include the Engineering Feasibility Studies, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Legal and Financial Transaction Advisory Services would be completed within the first quarter of 2019.”

The ZRA is an organisation jointly owned by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe mandated with managing the Kariba Dam, providing water for hydro-power generation as well as well as facilitating and overseeing development of infrastructure along the Zambezi River for the benefit of the two countries.

When complete, the electricity generated by Batoka power station will be shared equally between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Zimbabwe and Zambia have in recent years been experiencing power deficits which they meet with imports from regional power utilities.