ZETDC Attributes Power Cuts To Dwindling Water Levels At Kariba

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) said yesterday attributed recent power cuts to dwindling water levels at the giant Kariba Hydro-Power Station and aging equipment at the four main thermal stations.

The power company said:

While normal generation has been subsisting up to now, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has reduced water allocation to ZPC from 19 billion cubic metres to 16 billion cubic metres for 2019. This is to enable the plant to be operational until the next rainy season. 

To this end, electricity generation at Kariba Power Station will thus be reduced to an average of 358MW from the planned average of 542MW as a direct result of this water allocation reduction and this has led to a power supply gap.

ZETDC also urged consumers to reduce consumption particularly during the morning and evening peak periods of 5 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 10 pm respectively. ZETDC added:

In the event that this supply and demand equilibrium is not maintained, the power utility would have no choice but to curtail some loads to restore grid stability.

Ironically, the power company recently distanced itself from some load shedding schedules that were circulating on social media. The schedules indicated that selected locations would be without power for about 8 hours in times specified.

Related:

• ZESA Warns Of Possible Power Cuts Due To Low Generation At Kariba & Hwange
• Power Cut Costs ZETDC More Than Half A Million Dollar$
• Govt Gives ZESA Green Light To Prepare ‘Crippling’ Load Shedding Schedules
• FULL TEXT: ZESA Statement On Load Shedding Schedules Circulating On Social Media

More: The Chronicle