Zambia is set to start rationing electricity supply to domestic customers from December 15, 2022, following a big drop
In water level in lake Kariba.

The Energy Minister, Peter Kapala announced this on Friday saying that the drop is threatening hydropower generation.

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The minister told the parliament that, water levels in the lake have dropped to 4.1% of usable storage for the Kariba North Bank Power Station in Zambia and the Kariba South Bank on the Zimbabwean side of the lake.

He said, “The low water level situation in lake Kariba threatens the power generation from both the Kariba North Bank Hydropower station and Karina South Bank Hydropower station.

The drop in the water levels was said to be a result of reduced inflows from the Zambezi river and its tributaries.

Hydropower is said to contribute more than 75% of Zambia’s power generation and heavy use by power generation companies both in Zambia and Zimbabwe also led to the drop in water levels.

Kapala told the parliament that if the current water utilization for power generation continues, there would not be enough for power generation from mid-December.

The minister then proposed that the rationing would translate to supplying domestic customers with six hours daily.