- Severe Power Shortages: Zambians will now receive electricity for only 3 hours per day
- In contrast to Zambia’s reduced supply, Zimbabweans benefit from 7 hours of electricity daily, highlighting the regional power crisis
- Demand vs. Supply Crisis: Zambia's electricity demand stands at 2,400 megawatts, while current production is only around 1,000 megawatts
Harare- Zambia is grappling with critical power shortages, as citizens are set to receive electricity for only 3 hours per day on a rotational basis.
This drastic reduction follows a significant drop in water levels at the Kariba Dam, which have plummeted to just 8.3%.
In contrast, Zimbabweans are currently receiving 7 hours of electricity daily, from 10 PM to 5 AM, highlighting a stark disparity in power availability.
Last year, Zambia's water levels were at 26.1%, and the country has indicated the potential shutdown of the Kariba North plant on September 14, 2024.
In a recent circular, Zambia’s power utility, ZESCO, announced it is facing a severe power shortfall which has hindered its ability to implement the previously announced 17-hour power rationing schedule set to commence on September 1, 2024.
The energy crisis has been further compounded by reduced power imports from the southern circuit via Namibia, due to a converter fault on the transmission line.
Currently, ZESCO is receiving only 33 megawatts out of the scheduled 160 megawatts from this import route.
Additionally, ongoing maintenance at Maamba Collieries Limited has temporarily removed 150 megawatts from the grid.
Zambia’s total electricity demand stands at approximately 2,400 megawatts, while the country is currently producing only about 1,000 megawatts daily.
This significant shortfall highlights the urgent need for solutions to address the power crisis.
Zambia’s energy resources encompass hydropower, petroleum, coal, biomass, and renewable energy, with petroleum being the only resource entirely imported.
The energy sector comprises three main sub-sectors: Electricity, Renewable Energy, and Petroleum.
The installed generation capacity in Zambia is 3,356.6 MW, predominantly from hydro (83%), followed by coal (9%), heavy fuel oil (5%), and solar PV (3%).
The mining sector remains the largest consumer of electricity, accounting for 51% of total generated power, followed by the domestic sector at 33%.
With these ongoing challenges, Zambia may soon find itself facing electricity shortages similar to those currently experienced in Zimbabwe.
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