KARIBA DAM MAY RUN DRY-OFFICIAL

 KARIBA DAM MAY RUN DRY-OFFICIAL

...30% (2, 400 billion cubic litres)-water for generation available’

By Jeff Kapembwa/ Zambia Informer 

Zambia has a paltry 30 percent of the 8,000 billion cubic litres of water is remaining in the Kariba Dam to contribute to power generation in Africa’s second leading copper producer until the next rain season, a senior power utility official says.

Zambia and Zimbabwe were allocated 16,000 billion cubic litres of water for power generation this year and the former is remaining with a paltry 2,400 billion cubic litres of water to tap from the more than 64-year-old-man-made lake available for power generation, a severe test for the country with over four months before the anticipated rain season.

Zambia has an installed hydro power generation capacity of about 3,356.6 MW-now depleting rapidly by El Nino factors and created an estimated 750MW deficit. 

Unless imports coupled with off-grid power supplement, the country may face daunting challenges to supply the mine’s 55 percent demand with 45 % percent shared by other end-users-many now affected by the over 12-hour power outage.

Estimates by ZRA shows that Zambia’s water intake into the dam through Zambezi River from various tributaries to fill the dam lamentably failed to fill up and hover over the estimated 488 metres above sea level after drought affected the 2023-24 season. 

The current allocation of 8 billion cubic litres of water is seemingly drying off and may seal off uptake after the remaining 30 percent runs dry before the next rain season expected in the next three-to-four months.

Kariba North Bank senior power station manager Cephas Museba amplifies the country’s predicament, indicating that the available water available from the dam for Zambia’s use is now a paltry 30 percent (2, 400 billion cubic litres), he is cited by local media that toured the facility-Thursday.

The Kariba North Power Bank-producer of about 990MW and normally operates six power generating machines has scaled down to two because of low water levels.  

The revisions are prompted by the declines in the allocated 8 billion cubic litres for this year, a challenge that needs urgent remedy. 

Museba anticipates for urgent power imports, though challenges remain abound as many power transmission lines remain overloaded. 

The Zimbabwean power transmission lines which the country uses to import power from Mozambique usually main congested at peak hours, posing a major challenge for the company. 

"We were only allocated eight billion cubic meters of water and Zimbabwe was also allocated 80 cubic meters of water to utilise from January to December. 

As we speak, we have already used up 70 percent of that and we are remaining with 30 percent and we have only done half of the year." Museba is cited as saying, adding:

"This is where the challenge comes in, where we have load shedding because we want to see how best we can utilise this 80 billion."

Zesco-operates nine hydropower stations with a combined capacity of 2,217.5 MW and eight small thermal power plants with a combined capacity of 11.3 MW resulting in a total installed capacity of 2,228.8 MW.  

It also owns and operates power distribution and transmission lines of 9,975 km, data shows.

However, the country’s low water levels may force authorities to sustain power outages to non-strategic installations apart from health and other essential points as thefts of equipment and power over-use characterizes the country, energy minister Peter Kapala told law makers Friday.

In a ministerial statement after a point of order was raised to clarify on whether hospitals and other important institutions are being load shed as seen on the ‘current load shedding schedule”, Eng. Kapala  admitted the critical situation faced by the country.

He warned that because of teh crisis, various power consumers may have to remain load managed to maintain and utilise the available water for generation drawn from various points and avoid a complete shutdown of the power stations.

Earlier President Hakainde Hichilema directed the power utility to spare Hospitals, Clinics and Water Utilities in the load management effected 11 March 2024 and reviewed to 12 hours on May 20.

This action is to ensure that power supply is available until the end of the year and help prevent damage to the power generating machines due to insufficient water levels.

“I wish to inform this August House that, abruption in the schedules coupled with longer hours of load shedding maybe experienced due to unforeseen technical faults or thefts of installations coupled with excessive consumption of power beyond the available allocated power.” Eng. Kapala told lawmakers.

“Nonetheless, in implementing the load shedding programme, ZESCO was directed to consider the vital role played by strategic institutions such as health facilities, water utilities, industry and mining firms as well as security wings”

The ‘critical institutions and establishments exempted from load management by providing electricity on a twenty-four-hour basis, with a current load estimated at 122 MW is planned to be shared.

Hospitals will on 24/7 basis use: 42 MW; Water Utilities: 38MW and Security wings: 42MW and will run on 24/7 basis, though technical shortcomings may occur. Repair and dialogue channels will be effectively undertaken in case of breakdown in teh system, Kapala said.

Photo Credit: Zesco Ltd.,