Kariba Dam water levels rise

SUN REPORTER writes @SunZambian WATER level at Lake Kariba Dam hydroelectricity scheme in Siavonga has started rising again, rising hope to the continued generation of power at the country’s largest power station. Kariba North Bank Power Station (KNBPS) at full operation has capacity to produce 1, 080 megawatts of power to the national grid but has in the past few years operated to the minimum due to low water levels. Lake Kariba Dam is designed to operate between levels 475.50m and 488.50m (with 0.70m freeboard) for hydropower generation. According to the latest data obtained, the dam which should generally be decreasing at this time of the year, has been steadily rising. This is attributed to earlier than usual rise in inflows from the immediate Kariba Lower catchment, closing at 478.38m (20.08 percent usable storage) on December 31 last year, compared to 476.69m (8.23 percent) recorded on the same date last year. Currently, Zambia has a power deficit of 810 megawatts, but it is hoped that with the coming of the 750 megawatts from the Kafue Lower Gorge power station and other solar powered stations, power rationing will be a thing of the past.