Environmental Management

After the ownership change of 27 November 2007, the Board of Directors set up the Environmental Directorate to be devoted exclusively to relevant aspects of environmental management at company level. Operation of the Cahora Bassa dam is associated with a series of environmental impacts that require an objective and strategic approach. This approach seeks to constitute HCB as a company that can respond fully to all the challenges of mitigating environmental impacts and the projection of these in complying with the ISO14001 norms.

To guarantee and bring prestige to the reputation of the company, in the most effective management of the environmental aspects in the sphere of its business activities, taking into consideration environmental protection, the prevention of pollution, and the legal compliance with the socio-economic needs in favour of the Sustainable Development of the country.

As part of its powers, the Environmental Directorate should undertake all the activities (water, urban and industrial) required for environmental management, and ensure physical;, chemical and bacteriological analyses (of the water, of oils in the industrial system, and of the sediments at the bottom of the lake). It should also guarantee implementation of the environmental policy, and of the company’s environmental management system.

The company, aware of its social and environmental responsibility to contribute to the country’s development, pledges to contribute to the sustainable management of the environment in which all spheres of its activity take place.

The Environmental Management System was established in the company in May 2008 and it is today a fundamental document for making operational the various environmental activities within the company between its units and their interaction with the outside world. This document was approved by the Board of Directors, which also adopted the Environmental Management Policy.

Cahora Bassa lake was created in 1975 and is located on the terminal stretch of the middle Zambezi. It has a maximum storage capacity of 65 km3 and a useful volume of 52 km3. , It is 270 km long with a maximum width of 30 km. The flooded area is 2.900 km2, and at maximum flood its elevation is 329m.

The Cahora Bassa dam has created a body of fresh water which is a source for the development of the ecosystem and for an enormous variety of aquatic animals, from large species such as crocodiles and hippopotamus to the famous kapenta fish (Lake Tanganyika sardines). Kapenta sustains an industrial fishery with enormous economic value for the region. There are several other species of fish of commercial value, such as the Kariba tilapia.

In 2003, HCB began to publish various reports on environmental studies, related to the exploitation and management of the Cahora Bassa lake. The initiative is allowing the consolidation of several indicators of environmental performance. The basic approach involves promoting the availability of increasingly detailed and transparent information, which makes it possible for all interested parties to understand the challenges facing the company in questions of the environment. Establish Links: