Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has announced the successful completion of the final leakage test on Sluice 6 of the Kariba Dam, marking a major milestone in the ongoing Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project.
The test, conducted at 5 PM on Thursday, 21 August 2025, involved a carefully managed release of around 1,500 cubic metres of water under strict expert supervision.
According to the Authority, the procedure was executed safely and confirmed that the refurbished sluice is fully operational.
This latest achievement completes a series of leakage tests on all six spillway gates of the dam, a key part of the US$294 million rehabilitation programme aimed at strengthening the structure’s integrity.
With all sluices now refurbished and functional, the dam’s long-term safety and resilience as one of Southern Africa’s most critical sources of hydroelectric power have been significantly reinforced.
ZRA said in a statement:
“The successful completion of this final test confirms that all six refurbished sluices are now fully functional a critical milestone in strengthening the dam’s integrity and ensuring the long-term safety, resilience, and reliability of this vital regional power source.”
The Authority thanked the team of engineers and specialists who had overseen the works, describing the success as “another historic step forward in securing the Kariba Dam for generations to come.”
The Kariba Dam, jointly managed by Zambia and Zimbabwe, supplies electricity to both countries and remains the largest man-made reservoir by volume in the world.
