Raising Fears of Severe Power Shortages Zambia’s power utility company, Zesco, has announced that the water levels in the Kariba Dam have dropped to a alarming 30 percent, sparking concerns of widespread power outages and load shedding.
The Kariba North Power Bank, a key power generation facility, has been forced to scale back operations, with only two of its six power generating machines currently in use. The dam’s water allocation for 2024 has already been depleted by 70 percent, prompting Zesco to implement drastic measures to conserve the remaining water.
The utility company is also struggling to import power from neighboring Mozambique due to transmission line overload, exacerbating the crisis. As Zambia grapples with the severe water shortage, residents and businesses are bracing themselves for prolonged power outages and disruptions to their daily lives.
The crisis has raised questions about the country’s energy security and its reliance on hydropower, highlighting the need for diversification and investment in alternative energy sources.