El Nino dark cloud looms over Zim

 

Zim Now Writer

The Energy Ministry has warned that Zimbabweans will have to deal with power cuts as El Nino induced droughts will impact on inflows into Lake Kariba and thus reduce capacity at the biggest national power plant.

“We will have a feel of these challenges [deepening power crisis] and I want to just also forewarn you given that we are expecting an El Nino, which will have an effect on Kariba water levels,”  said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Gloria Magombo, during the Economic Policy Dialogue breakfast Indaba held by the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce recently.

 

 

Magombo said the country is not expecting Gwayi and Sanyati to significantly contribute to inflows in the Kariba Dam due to El Nino.

“We are hoping and praying that inflows from Zambia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo into the lake will come in March or May when Barotse plains (or wetlands) will start releasing water into Kariba,” she said

Zimbabweans are already dealing with minor power cuts that are seeing some areas lose power for a few hours for two days or so per week.