Zambia`s power utility, Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) has announced a significant power shortfall that will affect its ability to implement the previously planned 17-hour power rationing schedule, which was set to commence today. This unexpected shortfall is due to reduced power imports and local generation constraints.
ZESCO said the primary issues include a converter fault on the transmission line from Namibia, which has reduced power imports to just 33 MW of the 160 MW originally scheduled. Additionally, maintenance work at Maamba Collieries Limited has temporarily removed 150 MW from the national grid. These factors have combined to create a significant power deficit.
To mitigate the impact of this shortfall, ZESCO said it has implemented several measures. Residential customers will now receive power for up to three hours per day on a rotational basis, which aims to support essential household needs such as water pumping. Essential services, including healthcare, water pumping stations, and security, are being prioritized. ZESCO is also installing diesel-powered generators in select markets to aid business continuity and relieve grid pressure by redistributing power initially reserved for exempted loads.
The corporation said it is closely monitoring the situation and will release an updated power rationing schedule once supply conditions improve and network stability is restored. ZESCO apologizes for the inconvenience and appreciates the patience and understanding of its customers during this challenging period.
Meanwhile, the Zambezi River Authority has issued an update on water levels at Kariba Lake, noting a decrease due to higher outflows than inflows. As of yesterday, the lake level is at 476.70 meters, down from 479.21 meters at the same time last year. Usable live storage for power generation has decreased significantly to 8.30%, compared to 26.08% last year, with usable live storage volume falling from 16.89 billion cubic meters (BCM) in 2023 to 5.37 BCM in 2024.
The lake’s operational range is between 475.50 meters and 488.50 meters, with a 0.70-meter freeboard for hydropower generation.
