Harare (New Ziana) – The availability of electricity in Zimbabwe is set to improve after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) on Friday granted the use of an addition three billion cubic meters of water for power generation at Kariba power station.
Zimbabwe has been experiencing power shortages in recent months due to low generation capacity at Kariba and Hwange power stations for various reasons.
ZRA chief executive officer Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the latest increase was further to the June 2021 increment which saw Zimbabwe and Zambia, which jointly utilise the Kariba dam for power generation get an additional 12 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water.
“Consequently, the 2021 allocation increased from the initial combined allocation of 30BCM granted at the commencement of 2021 to 42 BCM. As a result of this decision, the two utilities have effectively been allocated a combined total of 45 BCM of water for 2021, with each utility expected to utilise a total of 22.5BCM for its respective power generation operations at Kariba for the year,” he said.
“The three billion cubic meters increase in water allocation was informed by hydrological simulations carried out by the authority that considered the obtaining stored usable water and power generation levels at the two Kariba Power Stations, as well as the normal to above normal rainfall projections made by the respective meteorological departments of the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe for the 2021/2022 rainfall season.”
Munodawafa said the authority’s decision to further increase the 2021 water allocation was premised on the provisions of the ZRA Act which provides for the regulation of the Kariba dam in liaison with the two power generation utilities, the Zimbabwe Power Company and ZESCO of Zambia.
“The Authority will continue to closely monitor the hydrological outlook at Kariba and make necessary adjustments, where necessary, to ensure the sustainable operation of the Kariba Reservoir going into the year 2022,” he said.
New Ziana