Water Levels Drop Good For Kariba Dam Rehabilitation - ZRA
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) says reduced water levels in Lake Kariba will allow the uninterrupted rehabilitation of the reservoir.
Water levels at the dam have dropped by more than 70 per cent over the 2021 levels and are trending towards record lows.
ZRA chief executive Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project is progressing well as reshaping of the plunge pool and refurbishment of the flood gates is best done when levels are low.
He added that the low water levels ensured that there would not be any need to open the spillway gates which would jeopardise the ongoing works. Said Munodawafa:
It is worth noting that the water levels currently obtaining at Kariba are favourable to the smooth implementation of the rehabilitation works.
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In this regard, the Authority will continue to closely monitor and optimise the water allocation for power generation operations to ensure uninterrupted implementation of the KDRP works together with the power generation operations while avoiding the need for spilling which has the potential to halt the works.
Levels have receded to 6,04 billion cubic metres (BCM), dropping to within one and a half metres of usable water as of November 1.
On the same day in 2021, the reservoir had 20,47BCM which was 4,47 metres above the minimum operating level and 8 metres below the maximum level.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope as water flows on the Zambezi River are beginning to increase at Chavuma and Victoria Falls gauging stations. Said Munodawafa:
… the catchment around Chavuma has now recorded some rainfall activity leading to a slight increase in the recorded flow.
The recorded flow on 1st November 2022 increased to 63m3/s. On 1st November 2021, the flows were slightly higher at 95 m3/s.
The impact of the flows on water levels in the Lake will only begin to be felt in the first quarter of 2023 because it takes two months for the flows to reach the lake. | The Herald
