Zambia Will Not Experience Load Shedding, ZESCO Speaks On Kariba Dam Low Water Levels
Zambia’s power utility, ZESCO Limited, says there will be no load shedding in Zambia emanating from low water levels at the Kariba Dam.
ZESCO said that the existing generation capacity can provide consistent power to its local customers.
This comes after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) said that water levels at the Kariba Dam are falling to record-low levels at 10.9 per cent usable water last week, compared to 34.1 per cent a year ago.
The development prompted energy expert Boniface Zulu to project an imminent but minimal load-shedding in Zambia.
However, speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Zambia International Mining and Energy Conference and Exhibition-ZIMEC in Kitwe, ZESCO Limited Board Chairperson Vickson N`cube told Phoenix News that the power utility is not panicking about the situation.
He said Zambia no longer relies on Kariba Dam alone and has the cushion of the 750 MW Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station that will be fully operational at the end of this month.
ZRA revealed that Kariba Dam had 10.9% of usable storage this week, compared with 34.1% a year ago.
Levels are close to those reached in the 1995/96 season, the lowest recorded since the dam was completed in 1959.
Zimbabwe and Zambia have both built extra hydropower turbines at Kariba Hydro Power Station in the past decade, which release more water downstream. | Lusaka Times
