ZESCO Limited says the amount of water available for hydropower generation at Lake Kariba remains insufficient for sustainable operations, despite the recent rising water levels.
On 6th January 2024 the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) announced that the water levels at Lake Kariba have shown a slight increase, rising to 475.87 meters.
But ZESCO Spokesperson, Matongo Maumbi, says while this is a positive development from the minimum operational level of 475.50 meters, it remains significantly below last year’s levels of 477.28 meters, and the reservoir’s usable storage is still critically low.
“ZESCO is actively working on long-term strategies to diversify Zambia’s electricity mix, including significant investments in solar electricity to reduce our reliance on hydropower generation,’’ said Mr. Maumbi in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
He has since commended the Zambezi River Authority for their crucial role in monitoring water levels at Lake Kariba and for providing the data that informs its operations.
By Christabel Kamunu
