Zambia introduces 12-hour power outages as Kariba reservoir low

• 1 year, 10 months ago (2023-01-05)
• David Flin

Africa 320 Hydropower 131

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Zambia’s electricity utility ZESCO has said that as a result of low levels of available water at the Kariba dam, it will be increasing load shedding to 12 hours daily until further notice. It said that its ability to meet power demand is constrained by this reduction in water level, affecting the capacity of the Kariba North Bank Power Station.

ZESCO said: “At present, the power station’s generating capacity has been reduced from its installed 1080 MW to below 400 MW.”

Zambia’s power crisis has been worsened by the outage of a 150 MW generator at Maamba Collieries Limited Power Plant for routine maintenance from January 4-12.