Kariba water levels increase 

By OLIVER SAMBOKO 

Water levels Kariba Dam has steadily increased to 478.85m compared 478.14m recorded on March 20, 2023.

This translates to 23.47 percent usable water for hydropower generation at Kariba North and South power stations.  Lake Kariba is designed to operate between levels 475.50m and 488.50m with 0.70m freeboard for hydropower generation.

According to ZRA, the Lake level has been rising due to higher inflows on the mainstream Zambezi River as compared to outflows, closing the period under review at 23.47 percent live water. 

And energy expert, Victor Hazemba has called for prudent management of water resources at Africa’s largest man-made lake in order to sustain power generation of power at Kariba North Bank power Station. 

Kariba North Bank Power Station is the biggest underground Hydro Power Station in Zambia with an installed capacity of 1,080 MW.  

Mr Hazemba warned that failure by the ZRA to compel the two power utilities to adhere to the allocated water usage was going to negatively affect generation of power at Kariba.  

He said due to increased power demand in the SADC region, there is high temptation for the two power utility companies to generate more for local supply and export to the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) in order to earn foreign currency. 

Mr Hazemba said there is need for ZRA to come up with punitive measure to deter Zesco and Zesa from misconducting themselves by way overusing water to generate electricity at Kariba North and South power stations.