Water levels plummet: Kariba Dam down to 6.79%, power generation at risk

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Kariba Dam, a critical source of hydroelectric power for Zambia and Zimbabwe, is on the brink of collapse in energy generation due to historically low water levels.

The dam’s usable water storage has plummeted to an alarming 6.79%, the lowest level since the 1990s.

In a statement on the current hydrological outlook at Kariba Dam, the authority said water levels continued to recede due to reduced inflows from the upstream section of the Zambezi River following the close of the 2023/2024 rainfall season.

As of today (September 27), the water level at Kariba Dam was recorded at 476.48 meters, which is 6.79% of the usable storage, while the Zambezi River flows at Chavuma and Victoria Falls have also continued to recede, with the flow rate at Victoria Falls recorded at 238m3/s on the same day.

However, the crisis has far-reaching consequences for the people of Zambia and Zimbabwe, who are already struggling with power outages and electricity shortages.

The reduced water levels at Kariba Dam have resulted in a significant decrease in power generation, exacerbating the existing energy crisis.

Communities are feeling the pinch as businesses and homes are affected by frequent power cuts, disrupting economic activities and daily life.

To mitigate this, ZRA says it will allocate 27BCM of water for 2025 power generation at Kariba Dam, split equally between the two countries.

Hydrological simulations factored in normal to above-normal rainfall forecasts for the SADC region.