The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has increased the generation limit on the Kariba power stations from 300MW to 350MW each.
Zimbabwe’s ZESA Holdings operates the Kariba South hydroelectric power station, while Zambia’s ZESCO operates the Kariba North hydroelectric power station.
ZRA chief executive Munyaradzi Munodawafa told The Herald that if power utilities do not exceed their generation limits, there would be room for increased power production. Said Munodawafa:
The power utilities (ZESA and Zambia’s ZESCO) should generate 700MW between them. I know in Zimbabwe there is winter wheat production.
If the levels of production are maintained up to the end of March, then there shouldn’t be any problems with the allocation for the winter wheat crop production.
He said Kariba Dam was expected to have received between 40 and 44 billion cubic metres by the end of the season in June.
This will allow ZESA and ZESCO to operate at their base production level of 1 200MW.