Lake Kariba getting normal inflows with 8.43% rise...

Lake Kariba getting normal inflows with 8.43% rise in 47 days of 2023

The Zambezi River Authority says that Lake Kariba is receiving average inflows and that they expect the trend to continue up to the end of the first quarter as catchment areas receive varying amounts of precipitation.

“The year 2023 commenced with a low lake level of 475.61m or 0.83% of live storage available for power generation on 1st January 2023. This was an increase from the lowest record of 475.60m (10cm above the Minimum Operating Level-MOL) recorded on 30th December 2022.

“From this lower lake level, the level now increased to 476.85m recorded today, 16th February 2023 which translates to 6 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) or 9.32% of stored usable water meant for power generation by the two utilities – ZESCO Limited and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) at Kariba North Bank Power Station and Kariba South Power Station, respectively,” ZRA announced in their first update for 2023, issued this Thursday.

The authority said average inflows into Lake Kariba coupled with the controlled power generation outflows, has been responsible for the increasing water levels at Kariba Dam.

“This outcome is in sync with the seasonal rainfall outlook prediction by both the CPC and the SADC Climate Services Centre’s 26th Southern Africa Regional Outlook Forum (SARCOF-26) and the downscaled forecasts of the Meteorological Departments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, of normal to above normal rainfall over Southern Africa in general, and the Kariba Catchment in particular,” reads the statement.

Compared to 1.24m recorded on January 1, 2023, the current lake level of 476.85m, places the lake at 1.35 meters above the Minimum Operating Level.

The Authority says readings from the Africa Rainfall Climatology Rainfall Estimator of the Climate Prediction Center of the United States of America, the Kariba Catchment has received normal rainfall over most parts of the Upper Catchment and normal to below normal over the larger part of the Lower Catchment during the last 90 days.

The CPC rainfall outlook for the next 7 days indicates a 50% – 65% chance of receiving above normal rainfall over the whole of the Lower Catchment while the Upper Catchment is expected to receive below normal rainfall.

River flows at Chavuma Gauging hydrometric station are expected to keep rising to the end of the first quarter of 2023.

Kariba is Zimbabwe’s largest source of electricity with the nation hoping for maximum inflows into the lake so that the country can utilise the full 900MW capacity to ease current power shortages.

ZRA has indicated that it is looking a floating solar panel technology for sustainable power generation.