Zambia’s power utility, ZESCO, announced that the critically low water levels, now down to just 8% of usable storage, will force the shutdown of the Kariba North Bank Power Station on September 14, 2024. The lake’s live water storage, essential for hydropower, has dwindled to just 1.26 meters, leaving Zambia and Zimbabwe with no choice but to scale back electricity generation drastically.
The crisis has led to severe power cuts across Zambia, with outages extending up to 20 hours daily, while Zimbabwe faces cuts of up to 12 hours. Both nations, heavily reliant on hydropower, are now rushing to diversify their energy sources. Zambia is exploring emergency power imports and investing in new coal and solar power plants to mitigate the energy shortfall.
Experts warn that the situation could worsen before the rainy season, expected in three months. The ongoing drought highlights the urgent need for southern African nations to adapt to the impacts of climate change and expand their energy portfolios to ensure stability and security.
EL NINO ???
How many years has Kariba been at a critcal level ? last year 15% yet no precautionary measures taken like 2 hours load shedding ? As with everything we wake up when it’s too late
This is now chance to fix the thing.
You were terrified that Kadam walls will burst
Ba HH instead of mocking ba ECL over loadshedding you should have been busy investigating the reason and formulate the means to improve our power supply. Now you took as a joke and the joke is on you ba Sir.
you can formulate all you want….but if you are broke and in debt forget about achieving anything.
Just curse the one who over-borrowed money and invested in a a hydro power dam he failed to even complete.
Zambezi River Authority should have advised
Zesco to reduce over usage of water earlier
So we would not be in this situation.Money made from exports made zesco continue exporting and yet water levels were depleting.
They have been doing this all the time but the new in the bid to fulfill their promises over ruled the Authority.
Politics were in play
What next!
Stop blame games just provide solutions
Solution Sack zesco top management for a start
……..
To make matters worse ……..
Most of the tributaries feeding the zambezi have had their trees cut down………this has compounded the disaster……..
The only way outta this is a full scale solar industry in zambia……….
80 to 90% of domestics should have been on solar by now.
100%
Especially residential consumers and small scale businesses.
Its shocking to see a barbarshop/salon business owners and welders crying about ZESCO load shedding.
Most of these connections are illegal.
Mini solar solutions are available and are the future for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Guys,
I have a pragmatic plan to restore water flow into Lake Kariba in a 3-5 year time frame, it entails:
** Revegetation along the banks of the river to arrest rainfall and recharge the water table
** Where conditions are amenable, use a JCB to push a 1m bund to arrest such rainfall, and
** Clean the clogged riverside springs to release large volume of water trapped behind them.
Can somebody please give me a hearing?
Better off using those plans on Itezhitezhi dam on the Kafue river.
1) Kariba dam is a shared resource with Zimbabwe while Itezhitezhi dam is 100% owned by Zambia.
2) The Kafue river complex has a higher generating capacity (120MW+990MW+762MW) = 1,872MM
Where is the canal/Kachasu man? He talked about the canal and that it is blasphemous to blame the act of God. His brother has said this the act of God and the Kachasu man has not told his brother that it is blasphemous. What a Bunch of chipante pantes.
The Supreme leader Ayatollah Hakainde Hichilema went to Dubai for the so called ” Dubai Expo” and came back with a bag full of lies and empty promises…am sure the was some Energy companies and Dubai Expo showcasing their business but HH went to Dubai with an entourage of Family members for shopping….Mutinta flew in a private….remember when they said the Jet was in Dubai for maintenance….anyway my argument is why didn’t HH allow ZESCO engineers to attend the Dubai Expo so that they can come up with ideas of doing away with hydro Electricity…..
This is what Politicians do…their job is to argue and point fingers at each other and get paid tons of money for doing nothing…..the Supreme leader Ayatollah Hakainde Hichilema visited lake Kariba for a ” Photo shoot” just to fool his gullible praise singers…
Liars! They have mismanaged the water levels and have been exporting power !
Call a solemn assembly. Sanctify a fast. Do not take the name of God in vain. If you call yourselves Christian nation, BE a Christian nation. Stop murdering each other’s reputations. Cease from strife, nepotism, tribalism and hypocrisy. and segregation. Depart from religious bigotry Feed the fatherless, care for the widows and execute justice without fear or favour. And God will abundantly pardon
New projects in solar and wind power Generation is the the only way. Meanwhile ZESCO senior officials should stop employing their bululus via subsidiaries like Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre which now has more than 100 employees from the initial 65 work force. Reduce the labour costs and invest the money in new projects, otherwise stop complaining.