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Sunday, February 9, 2025
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Import Constraints Force ZESCO into Emergency Load Management

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…as some households endure power loss for more than 24 hours

ZESCO is pulling back more power from its remaining export portfolio to shore up its diminishing power resources to feed the national demand.

Last week, Managing Director Victor Mapani disclosed that ZESCO had reduced exports from a peak of about 500MW in February to 271MW, with much of the remaining exports being those that ZESCO cannot easily stop.

The company’s spokesperson Matongo Maumbi stated yesterday that some customers, especially in Lusaka, have endured load shedding of up to 20 hours as ZESCO is forced into emergency load management.

Facts on the ground indicate that certain households and areas are now going for more than 24 hours without power.

Maumbi explained that the emergency had been necessitated by ZESCO’s inability to bring in the scheduled 100MW of imports due to constraints on the Namibia transmission route.

The utility’s anticipated significant power supply shortfall arising from Maamba Energy’s commencement of annual maintenance of part of its plant, taking out 150MW from August 27 to September 10, and the potential loss of total generation at Kariba is intended to be filled up by imports.

Maamba will take out another 150MW from September 16 to 30 when the other unit undergoes maintenance. Meanwhile, ZESCO faces the impeding possible shutdown of Kariba by September 14.

ZESCO had stated a day earlier that the generation deficit would consequently increase from 1,086MW in August to 1,280MW in September.

“As of 23 August 2024, Lake Kariba’s water level stands at 476.81 metres above sea level, representing only 9.05% of the reservoir’s storage capacity – a sharp decline from last year’s 27.53% storage capacity. With water resources nearing the minimum operating level, ZESCO faces the imminent challenge of potentially exhausting the remaining water reserves by 14 September 2024, which could lead to the Kariba North Bank Power Station shutting down,” Maumbi stated.

Further, he said ZESCO was facing import route constraints, and equipment failure due to faults and vandalism, all of which further strain the system, especially during the morning and evening peak periods.

He said while ZESCO had secured an additional 200MW of imports in mitigation from August 1, the power may not be sufficient to fully balance the supply and demand, hence, emergency rationing remains a possibility.

He urged energy efficiency among consumers by reducing non-essential power usage, unplugging devices when not in use, practicing lighting efficiency, optimizing production schedules, and adopting energy management systems to minimize usage.

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