The ZRA manages the Zambezi River waters and maintains the Kariba Dam complex on behalf of Zimbabwe and Zambia

THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has increased next year’s water allocation for power generation by 13,33 percent, to 34 billion cubic metres from the current 30 billion cubic metres.
The ZRA manages the Zambezi River waters and maintains the Kariba Dam complex on behalf of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The move means that both the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and Zambia Electricity Supply Authority (ZESCO), the two power utilities which share the water resource at Kariba for power generation will have an allocation of 17 billion cubic metres each from the current 15 billion cubic metres they are allowed to use.
ZPC operates the Kariba South Power Station and ZESCO manage Kariba North Bank Power Station.
ZRA director for water resources and environment Christopher Chisense, told TheFinancial Gazette last week that the upward review of water allocation was due to expectations that there would be good rains this season.
“Yes, we have just reviewed water allocation for power generation for next year. It will be 34 billion cubic metres, meaning that each utility will have 17 billion cubic metres of water,” Chisense told this newspaper last week.
He added: “The reason for the increase was based on the forecast. We expect to have normal to above normal rainfall this coming rain season.”
This means that ZPC and ZESCO would adjust upwards their power generation.
Currently, Kariba South Power Station is generating 285 megawatts (MW), out of a total installed capacity of 750MW daily, while ZESCO is producing up to 275MW from an installed capacity of 1 080MW.
At full capacity, Kariba Dam can hold about 65 billion cubic metres of water.
ZRA was established in 1987 as a successor to the Central African Power Corporation, a power firm which was jointly owned by the governments of Zimbabwe and Zambia when they were still part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which was dissolved in 1963.
Zimbabwe currently requires about 1 400MW daily at peak periods, but it’s generating about
1 000MW from Kariba and a number of its thermal power plants.
To cover for the supply shortfall, the country has been importing up to 350MW.
South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, is supplying Zimbabwe with up to 300MW while Hydro Cahora Bassa of Mozambique is supplying Zimbabwe up to 50MW.
Kariba South Power Station has been producing relatively cheap and reliable electricity for the country at an average cost of $0,02 per kilowatt hour (kW/h), while electricity generated from four thermal power stations at Hwange, Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo is at an average cost of between $0,08 kW/h and $0,16 kW/h. Imports are coming into the country at a cost of about $0,13 per kW/h.

[email protected]