Kamuzu Barrage upgrading Phase 1 complete
Phase one of the upgrading works for Kamuzu Barrage at Liwonde in Machinga has been completed.
Briefing journalists during a tour to appreciate progress of works at the barrage on Friday, government site representative Tony Nyasulu expressed optimism that the project will not miss deadline this time around, reiterating that it will be completed by mid 2018.
Initially, the project—which started in October 2014—was set to take three years, but it was extended to 2018 due to delays in civil and mechanical works by contractors owing to delayed procurement of materials and starting of the project.
The extension of the deadline raised fears that it would result in needless cost overruns that will burden the taxpayer.
Public Accounts Committee chairperson Alekeni Menyani is quoted in the media expressing worry at the implication of the delays in completing the project within the specified time.
But according to Nyasulu, installation of new gates, coffer dams, stop logs, energy dissipaters and weed boom has been completed on the eastern side of the barrage covering phase one of the project and that works on phase two (on the western side) have already started.
He added that completion of phase one of the project is an indication that works are progressing well, brushing aside fears that the project might delay further.
“Works on the upgrading of the barrage is progressing well. It is going to be a state of the art barrage, more durable than it was before,” said Nyasulu.
Two contractors—Conduril Engenharia of Portugal and CMC di Ravenna of Italy—and Norplan Consulting Engineers of Norway are implementing works at the barrage.
According to Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development spokesperson Alfred Kutengule, government was yet to formally write World Bank requesting an extension of the project loan period following the delay in completion.
The $50 million (about K37 billion) project is being funded with a loan and some grants from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank under water-related infrastructure component of the Shire River Basin Management Programme (SRBMP).
The barrage was commissioned in 1965 to regulate the flow levels of water in the Shire River to ensure sustainable water flow for hydro power generation, irrigation and water supply. The barrage also controls flooding in the Lower Shire. n
