The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has yet to significantly increase the water allocation from Lake Kariba to Zimbabwe and Zambia for electricity generation, as water levels in the reservoir remain critically low.
Zimbabwe is currently facing load shedding of up to 16 hours a day, while Zambia remains cautiously optimistic about easing its power outages by August 2025.
The ongoing energy crisis in both countries has been largely attributed to the El Niño-induced drought, which has severely reduced inflows into Lake Kariba, a vital source of hydroelectric power for the region.
ZRA’s public relations and communications manager, Selusiwe Moyo, confirmed that water allocations to both nations remain restricted due to the persistently low water levels. Said Moyo:
Our immediate focus is on rebuilding the dam’s reservoir levels, which were critically depleted by drought.
Only after stabilisation can we sustainably increase water allocation to both Kariba North and Kariba South power stations.
ZRA has increased Zambia’s water allocation for electricity generation to 13.5 billion cubic metres for 2025, up from eight billion cubic metres in 2024.
As a result of this development, ZESCO Limited has projected a reduction in load-shedding by August 2025.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Kariba North Bank Power Station, Christopher Singogo, ZESCO senior manager, said:
The situation remains delicate, but the signs are encouraging. With higher water inflows and improved resource management, we are hopeful of reducing the intensity of load shedding by the third quarter.
On Monday, 19 May 2025, ZRA said water levels in Lake Kariba have continued to rise marginally, supported by a steady increase in inflows from the upper catchment of the Zambezi River.
The lake level stood at 477.99 metres, an improvement from the 477.39 metres recorded on the same date in 2024.
This increase reflected a positive shift in the lake’s usable live storage volume, which has grown from 8.48 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2024 to 11.23 BCM in 2025.
As a result, the proportion of usable live storage available for power generation has risen from 13.10% last year to 17.33% this year.
Over the past several weeks, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has been generating 400 MW at the Kariba South Power Station, up from 252 MW.
More: NewsDay
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