ZESCO has issued a warning about a potential power shortage due to declining water levels, which may lead to the shutdown of the Kariba North Bank Power Station by September 14, 2024.
In a recent statement, ZESCO spokesperson Matongo Maumbi highlighted that the company is facing a severe power supply deficit as water resources approach critically low levels. The projected shortfall in power generation is expected to reach 1,280 megawatts (MW) in September 2024, up from 1,086 MW in August 2024, largely due to a worsening drought impacting hydropower generation.
Maumbi also pointed out that annual maintenance work by Maamba Energy is contributing to the anticipated supply gap. Maamba Energy, an Independent Power Producer with a generation capacity of 300 MW, will be conducting maintenance in two phases. During the first phase, from August 27 to September 10, 150 MW of capacity will be offline, with an additional 150 MW out of service during the second phase from September 16 to September 30.
Compounding the issue, ZESCO is experiencing challenges with power import routes, including equipment failures and vandalism on the Namibian route. These factors are exacerbating the strain on the power system, particularly during peak demand times in the morning and evening.
To mitigate the impact, ZESCO has arranged for an additional 200 MW of power imports starting August 1, 2024. However, Maumbi cautioned that these imports may not fully address the supply-demand imbalance. As a result, emergency power rationing remains a possibility as ZESCO continues to explore all options to stabilize the situation.
