The Engineering Institution of Zambia says there is no imminent collapse of the Kariba Dam.
EIZ Vice President for Policy, Public Relations and National Development George Sitali told a media briefing that the state of the dam report shows the dam is not under an imminent collapse.
Mr Sitali said the report also demonstrates the Zambia River Authority’s efforts to proactively enhance the safety of the dam and ensure that it continues to perform according to its intended purpose.
He however observed that the proposed remedial and plunge pool enlargement works and modernisation of the monitoring equipment need to be implemented in the shortest possible time to guarantee continued dam safety.
“The recommendations follow very serious and alarming concern raised by the media about the state of the Kariba dam. The EIZ constituted a team of experts to undertake investigations on the state of the Kariba dam and give recommendations,” Mr Sitali said.
He added, “The plunge pool scouring has reached depths of the order of 80M and if not addressed can lead to undermining of the dam wall foundation and instability of the wall.”
Mr Sitali said the present spill way gates do not allow emergency operation in cases when the downstream gates fail to close due to deformities over the years.
“The effects of Alkali Aggregate Reaction (AAR) are volumetric expansion of the concrete leading to deformation in the spillway gate built-in parts leading to gate operation problem.”
Mr Sitali recommended that large concrete structures while operating safely are characterized by cracks of one form or the other adding that the cracks on the Kariba Dam are due to shrinkage of concrete and temperate effects over the years.
He said currently there is no possibility of closing the sluice gates under flow conditions should there be need saying this has been proposed to install an emergency spillway gate and a new gantry.
Mr Sitali also observed that most of the research on the Kariba dam has been conducted by external institutions without the participation of local researchers.
“It is therefore highly recommended that the two nations (Zambia and Zimbabwe) consider funding research using local institutions.”
these zambian engineers are not trust worth to be believed because they are just book worms and are not capable of engineering anything
Sell that thing, what a dilapidated sight that is.
Kariba dam, is it in zambia at all?
Excuse some of us, as I have lost sight of Zambian geography and even the accent has now changed , as all i think about and breath is Scotland.
Thanks
Zambia actually has engineers!! What do they do?
Engineers needed to report on the type of studies or research or readings done on the strength of the wall. The statement does not seem to be back by scientific data at all, other than giving possible happening from an informed position. Please our engineers help us through conducting actual tests or research and report on the findings. Yes, we need Zambian engineers to be the one telling us on this matter to give direction to policy makers and implementers.
Just leave us alone we Zambian engineers. The fact that successive Zambian governments don’t recognise or appreciate us, doesn’t matter. As long as we are appreciated abroad thats what matters. After all, “a prophet is not appreciated in his home country”.
Ba engineer ba nembo.
They cant even construct a foot bridge, how can they be trusted to deal with a humongous task like the mighty kariba dam?
The engineer (Australia), where are you? This is now your real challenge and not just being a monkey in the aboriginals’ fields
@Gen, dont be like Idi Amin, in whose world, a medical doctor is a medical doctor and regardless of speciality they can work in any speciality. Like wise, the enineering profession has many specialities and so just because the Australian Engineer is an engineer doesnt mean he will give expert advice on all engineering matters. For all we know he may be an electronics engineer and you expect him to comment on hydraulic and foundation engineering issues. However, @Gen, you on many occassions shoot before seeing the target. Also known as “trigger happy”. PF cadres for you.
@Gen
That engineer(Australia) is a fake one.He is just some chap from notech with a craft certificate in heavy equipment.Reason why he is nowhere to be seen here.
I WAS THINKING SIMILARLY THE SAME. IF THEY HAVE NEVER EVEN ENGINEERED AND CONSTRUCTED A BRIDGE, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THEM. ALL NORTH AFRICAN COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE NIGERIA (WESTERN) DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THEIR BRIDGES USING LOCALLY TRAINED INDIGENOUS ENGINEERS. I AM TALKING ABOUT MODERN WONDERS OF BRIDGES INCLUDING SPAGHETTI JUNCTIONS.
Only in Zambia where local Experts are not trusted until you bring in foreign Consultants who will engage local expert skill to get Solutions and you pay Forex to the foreigners then you get comfortable. Zambia will only be developed by Zambians
THEY ALSO NEED TO PROVE THEMSELVES BY CARRYING OUT PROPER RESEARCH IN ORDER TO CONVINCE US ZAMBIANS AND THE GOVERNMENT TO BE TRUSTED.
Glad to hear this.
Yes, it is Engineer Sosala who recommended that, he worked there.
Sosala ka ? Hmm ,Glad to know.
Are these the same Zambian Engineers that maintain ZAF aircraft?
Not everyone is an engineer. Big difference between an Engineer and a technician. Just as there is a differnce between a medical officer and a medical doctor. Someone does auto mechanics technician’s course at Luanshya Trades and people gladly call him a mechanical engineer.
But i have always told you that it is ok. The only thing is that they wanted to borrow 250 million dollars to give their friend and share among themselves. That is PF for you. What has saved the money is the fact that Zimbabwe knew that the bridge only required the usual maintenance
I knew it from the day it was announced that this is a way of pocketing some money by a few individuals. That dam wall was built on strong foundation and very thick with really big supports.
have u ever been to UNZA or UTH recently? these places have ancient structures like of the 1870s, and if u really think they can produce reliable intellectuals then u r mistaken. the Dam looks like a Zambian structure dirty and abandoned just like the city of Lusaka. we need some serious planning and investment in our institutions to produce men and women high caliber.
Just leave us alone we Zambian engineers. The fact that successive Zambian governments dont recognise or appreciate us, doesnt matter. As long as we are appreciated abroad thats what matters. After all, “a prophet is not appreciated in his home country”.
I don’t trust these dwanzy Zambian engineers. Why should we listen to them when they have failed to solve most of our simplest engineering challenges. Look at the way they failed to provide guidance on the ring road. How can an important road meant to decongest most of our ancient roads have two small lanes and drainage bigger than the lanes? Worse still the road goes back into already congested roads such as is the case at shoprite kafue road. Ati engineer so and so. My foot! They should just shut up.
These zambian Engineers are too too theoretical and not practical.
No offense, but they need to contract a multinational engineering company to get a second opinion. The stakes are too high; what happens if it does collapse?
Mr Sitali “Ever Heard of” the Precautionary Principle”? Eminent danger is just what it means to avert damage to the environment and Humans, if necessary steps are not taken to correct the defects the results will be very catastrophic and can not be atoned by any form of compensation. This is of time for jokes or politics, renowned engineers and other experts were consulted. If you were not consulted at all it speaks volumes about the quality of work you have performed in the past. There is sufficient evidence of Zambian Engineers approving payments for shoddy work done by most road contractors at huge expense to the Zambian tax payers. Stop being VUVUZELA’S without engaging the Govrernment and seeking cheap publicity.Shame on You. “He Who comes to Equity must come with Clean Hands”
What has Zambia revenue Authority got to do with kariba dam , collect water tax?? How can a Lozi man a Georg sitali comment on hydraulic structures when he has failed to engineer the SAND in BRE , Zambian engineers cannot manage that dam, it has a curved surface what was taught at UNZA are just plane rectangular faces so its out of our syllabus just like the constitution is out of PF sylabus
Zambian engineers are as good as all engineers in the world. The problem is that we trash everything by a Zambian. We must learn to have confidence in our own manpoer. These are the people helping to develop Botswana, Namibia, RSA only to be called unqualified in their own motherland.
I hope EIZ conducted a detailed structural analysis that can even be published as a research paper. This habit of professionals just speculating without scientific studies should come to an end.
Koma umusungu ngewalanda!
“THE Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) has attributed the deterioration of the Kariba Dam wall partly to the drilling and blast operations at the Kariba South Bank extension project being undertaken by Zesco Limited.”
THE ABOVE IS AN OPENNING PARAGRAPH FROM ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL. I WONDER WHY LT LEFT OUT THIS IMPORTANT INFO. I WONDER ALSO WHY OUR ENGINEERS DID NOT ADVICE ZESCO AGAINST DRILLINGS INSTEAD OF CAUSING DAMAGES OUR ENGINEERS CANNOT HANDLE. WE HAVE A LOT OF BIG RIVERS WHERE TO BUILD NEW DAMS. LUAPULA RIVER IS JUST LOAFING.
Those of you who have visited the Levy Mwanawasa bridge at Chembe across the Luapula river must have seen how challenging it must have been to sink those pillars into the river bed. I am the engineer who made the blast designs under water and blasted all those pillars before the Chinese could construct the bridge. So dont say Zambian engineers this, Zambian engineers that. We engineers just work and dont go about blowing our trumpets…..!