ZRA rations Kariba water for power

The Zimbabwe Power Company, is now allowed to generate a maximum of 475 megawatts from the 750Mw capacity Kariba South plant, due to water rationing by the Zambezi River Authority.

The water allocation has been revised down to 40 billion cubic metres from 45 billion shared equally between Zimbabwe Power Company and neighbouring Zambia power utility, ZESCO.

The two generate on the Southern and Northern banks of the dam. In light of the development at Kariba South, ZPC has reportedly implored the State Procurement Board to speed up awarding of tenders for planned power projects, including turnkey solar power initiatives with a combined capacity of 300Mw.

This comes amid concerns that the reduced water allocation could worsen power supply, as has already happened in Zambia, which now obtains only 20 percent of its requirement from Kariba North from the previous 80 percent.