ZESCO Limited (ZESCO) has disclosed that power generation output at its largest installed power plant, Kariba North Bank, has dropped by 90.9% from 1,080MW to 98MW.
In a statement updating the nation on the power generation status, ZESCO listed the present generating status of its stations. The most alarming drop is at Kariba North, further fueling fears that the plant may shut down before the next rainy season. Barely a month ago, it was producing 166MW.
ZESCO says that its other plants are all producing below capacity, with Kafue Gorge generating 372MW instead of 990MW; Kafue Gorge Lower giving 179MW against 750MW and 34MW from Itezhi-Tezhi from the usual 120MW.
“To supplement this reduced power generation, ZESCO is taking up 105 megawatts of power from Ndola Energy, importing up to 188MW from Mozambique, and has gone further to reduce power exports from 520MW in February to 281MW in June.”
Even with these interventions, the utility says that the total available power of 1,268MW still fell short of the demand of 2,216MW as of June 2024.
As a result, ZESCO has warned that it will have to ration power outside the planned time schedules.
