The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has said that the Kariba Dam is 85 per cent full, and that it has therefore increase the water allocated to the two hydropower stations for power generation. Elizabeth Karonga, Public Relations and Communications Manager for ZRA, said that the Kariba Dam was two metres from being completely filled. She said that Zesco and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) would be expected to jointly use approximately 23 billion cubic metres for the remainder of the year, bringing the total annual allocation to 45 billion cubic metres for 2018.
“This is an increase of 32 per cent from the original 2018 water allocation and is expected to help increase electricity generation at Kariba Dam. With this water allocation, the Lake Kariba level is expected to close 2018 around 7 metres above the minimum operating level, representing around 58 per cent usable storage for electricity generation.”