The water level in Lake Kariba has increased slightly over the past few days due to increased rainfall activity on and around the dam in the past few days, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has said.
According to ZRA’s weekly updates on Lake Kariba levels, as of 5 January 2023, the reservoir was at 475.68m (1.32% usable storage) compared to 478.25m (19.17% usable storage) recorded on the same date last year. ZRA said:
The Lake level that has been decreasing has now started showing some increasing trend in the past few days due to an increase in local rainfall activity on and around the lake.
The period under review closed at 475.68m (1.32% usable storage or live storage) on 5th January 2023, compared to 478.25m (19.17% usable storage) recorded on the same date last year.
ZRA added that the Kariba Lake is designed to operate between levels 475.50m and 488.50m (with 0.70m freeboard) for hydropower generation.
Due to low water levels in the lake, ZRA ordered ZESA and ZESCO, Zimbabwe and Zambia’s power utilities respectively, to reduce electricity generation last year.
Zimbabwe operates the Kariba South Bank Power Station, which has an installed capacity of 1 050MW, while Zambia operates the Kariba North Bank Power Station which has an installed capacity of 1 080MW.
On 4 January 2023, Zambia’s State-owned power utility ZESCO Limited increased hours of load shedding to twelve (12) hours daily due to low water levels in the lake.
ZESA was also forced to reduce power generation at Kariba South Power Station towards the end of 2022 due to dwindling water levels, and as of 5 January 2023, the power plant was generating a meagre 260MW.