BUSINESS REPORTER
The Zambezi River Authority has increased water allocation at Kariba by 3 billion cubic meters (3BCM) in a major boost for power generation, Business Times can report.
The increases means the power utilities—Zimbabwe Power Company and ZESCO Limited—will equally share 45 BCM this year for power generation at Kariba power stations.
Kariba is Zimbabwe’s biggest source of electricity. On Friday, the power station contributed 980MW of the 1228MW generated on the day.
The increase is the second this year following the one made in June where the Authority increased water allocation by 12 BCM to 42 BCM.
Zambezi River Authority CEO Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the decision to increase the 2021 water allocation is premised on the provisions of the Zambezi River Authority Acts which provide for the regulation of the Kariba Reservoir in liaison with the two power generation utilities.
He said the Water Purchase Agreement signed between the two utilities and the Authority make provision for quarterly reviews of the hydrological outlook at Kariba to inform on the continued availability of water and the need, if any, for adjustments in the amount allocated for power generation at Kariba.
The quarterly reviews may result in a downward or upward adjustment in the allocation made to Kariba North and South Bank Power Stations for their respective generation operations, Munodawafa said.
“Accordingly, the 3BCM 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,” he said.
“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.”
