The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), a statutory body jointly owned by the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, is mandated by both Governments with responsibility for:
· the operation and maintenance of Kariba Dam Complex;
· the investigation, development, monitoring and maintenance of new dam sites on the Zambezi River; and
· ensuring the effective and efficient use of waters and other resources of the Zambezi River shared between the two countries.
In line with this mandate, ZRA now seeks to develop the Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Scheme on the Zambezi River.
The Batoka Gorge HES is to be located across the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe at 18º 1' S 26º 34' E, upstream of the existing 1470MW Kariba Dam hydroelectric scheme. The proposed scheme includes a 181 m high Roller Compacted Concrete gravity arch dam, radial gated crest type spillway, two underground power stations on each side of the river with four 200 MW Francis turbines installed in each, giving a total capacity of 1600 MW for thescheme. The scheme is designed as a run-of-the river scheme with an estimated average energy generation of 8700 GWh/year. The reservoir is fully located within the Batoka Gorge and has a surface area of 26 km2.
ZRA hereby invites Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from interested Consulting firms with experience as Transaction Financial/Legal Advisers in the development of large scale hydropower projects on trans-boundary waterways to carry out:
- an assessment of the legal and regulatory framework under which Project construction and operation would take place, including those related to social, economic, and environmental impacts of the Project.
- an analysis of the different transaction structures for the Batoka Gorge HydroElectric Scheme(Project), including options for public or private funding, and public-private partnerships (PPPs), with a view to recommending the most optimum, bankable structure that takes into consideration prevailing market conditions, priorities of the stakeholders involved, and the technical parameters and development schedule resulting from the updated feasibility study.
Technical, legal and environmental feasibility studies were carried out in 1993. These will be reviewed during 2013 and will inform the development transaction. An executive summary of the 1993 studies is available on the ZRA web-site or can be obtained from the address below.
Expressions of Interest are to be submitted in English and should include:
1. A description of the Firm's activities (max. 3 pages) during the last 10 years, including information on:
- Participation as Transaction Advisers in large scale hydropower infrastructure projects, withparticular emphasis on experience with the following development models:
o Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT)
o Engineering, Procurement and Construction
o Any other similar private sector participation structure
2. Copies of the two most recent audited financialstatements.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 08:00 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 16:30 hours local time, not later than one week before closing date.
Hard copies (1 Original and 3 copies) of the EoI's must be delivered to theaddress below by 16:00 hours on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.
Chief Executive Officer
Zambezi River Authority
Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Telephone: +260 211 228401/02
Facsimile : +260 211 227498
E-mail: munodawafa@zaraho.org.zm
With copy to Eng. David Mazvida
Director Projects and Dam Safety
E-mail: mazvida@zaraho.org.zm
Only shortlisted firmswill be contacted.