The Kariba Hydroelectric Plant could be shut down completely by January 2020 due to a fall in water levels, making the little water remaining unusable (dead water).
This was revealed by Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) Chief Executive Officer, Munyaradzi Munodawafa, who also said the authority will soon present the figures on the water levels to the government. He said:
We could drastically, drastically reduce to the extent of even shutting down Kariba. We are still calculating so that we can present the extent figures to the governments but l do not see anything good coming out.
According to latest figures, the water level declined to 476.99m as of the 5th of this month, with the lake designed to operate between 475.50 metre and 488.50 metre levels for hydropower generation.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Minister of Energy, Mathew Nkhuwa said it will take up three years to fill up Lake Kariba provided adequate rains are received.