• 12 hours of load shedding will reduce once Mamba Thermal Power Plant completes servicing the faulty 150 Megawatts Machine.
• The Country is currently being serviced by one 150 megawatts machine which is not sufficient to cater for growing population.
• Zesco exports electricity to foreign countries at a minimal of 10 megawatts
Zesco Limited says the 12 hours of load shedding will reduce once Mamba Thermal Power Plant completes servicing the faulty 150 Megawatts Machine which generates electricity to the National Grid.
Speaking when he featured on Money FM’s radio programme dubbed “Knowledge at Money,” Zesco Spokesperson Henry Kapata explained that the country is currently being serviced by one 150 megawatts machine which is not sufficient to cater for the growing population at once.
Mr. Kapata further stated that the pronouncement coming from the Zambezi River Authority that the water levels at Kariba dam have started increasing is good news as this will help reduce load shedding.
“Zesco exports electricity to foreign countries at a minimal of 10 megawatts, only when there is a crisis in that nation,” he added.
Zesco has increased load shedding from six to 12 hours due to the reduced water levels at Kariba reservoir.
The Corporation recently said its ability to meet power demand remains constrained by the drastic reduction in available water in the Kariba reservoir for electricity generation at Kariba North Bank Power Station, stating that at present, the power station’s generating capacity has been reduced from its installed 1080Megawatts to below 400 Megawatts.
Meanwhile, Government has announced a cut down in electricity exports due to low power generation.
Minister of Energy Peter Kapala however told the media that the government will not completely do away with exports to maintain existing power markets.
“Currently ZESCO is a cash strapped entity, further stating that the little exports are the ones cushioning the power utility’s operations, “he said.
Engineer Kapala assured Zambians that government expects the load management to stabilize in the first quarter of this year as it is working round the clock to bring on board the 105 Megawatts Ndola Energy Power Plant and the 150 Megawatts 5th generating unit at the 750 Megawatts Kafue Gorge lower Hydro Power Station.
On 5th January 2023, Zambezi River Authority disclosed that the Kariba Lake level that has been decreasing has now started showing some increasing trend in the past few days due to increase in local rainfall activity on and around the lake.
