The water levels at Lake Kariba are steadily increasing, offering a positive outlook for Zimbabwe and Zambia, which heavily depend on the reservoir for hydroelectric power generation.
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) reported in its latest hydrological survey on Monday that consistent rainfall in the dam’s catchment area has led to the rise in water levels.
“The lake level is gradually improving due to sustained rainfall in the reservoir and surrounding catchment areas, closing the review period at 475.87m (2.61% usable storage) as of January 6, 2025. This is compared to 477.28m (12.32% usable storage) recorded on the same date last year,” the ZRA noted.
The Kariba Dam, designed to operate between 475.50m and 488.50m for power generation, recorded a slight increase from 11.38% full on December 28, 2024, to 12.32% on January 6, 2025.
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Impact of Previous Low Water Levels
In November 2022, the Kariba South Power Station in Zimbabwe ceased electricity generation due to critically low water levels caused by an El Niño-induced drought.
The dry spell had resulted in an imbalance between the dam’s water intake and consumption by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). This led the ZRA, which jointly manages the dam for both countries, to issue a directive suspending electricity generation at Kariba South.
During this period, Zambia, which managed its water consumption more conservatively, was allocated most of the remaining water, while Zimbabwe struggled with energy shortages exacerbated by rising fuel prices amid the global impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Significance of the Kariba Dam
With an installed capacity of 1,626 megawatts, the Kariba Dam plays a critical role in powering regional economies. Constructed during the colonial era, the dam was initially intended to bolster economic growth in settler-controlled territories. However, it has since become a cornerstone for the independent states of Zimbabwe and Zambia, providing the majority of their electricity needs today.
