Low water cuts Zimbabwe Kariba power plant output

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) will cut electricity generation by a third to 475 megawatts (MW) at the Kariba hydropower plant due to low water levels, the company said yesterday, likely worsening daily power cuts.

Kariba produces half of Zimbabwe’s electricity. The cutback will also affect Zimbabwe’s northern neighbour Zambia, which draws water from Kariba Dam.

The southern African country is producing a maximum 1 345 MW of power, half its peak demand, forcing local industries to use costly diesel generators to keep operations running. Electricity shortages have been blamed for keeping away potential investors.

ZPC said in a statement that generating power at current levels of 705 MW would lower water at Kariba Dam below minimum accepted levels before the start of the rainy season in November.

This would result in ‘a possible shutdown of the station for the next two months,’ ZPC said.

Chinese company Sino Hydro is adding another 300 MW to Kariba, a project which should be completed by the end of 2018.

ZPC has previously said Zimbabwe plans to build new power stations to generate 3 500 megawatts at a cost of US$5 billion to end chronic power cuts that have damaged the economy. –Nampa-Reuters