Category: Electricity

A significant drop in water levels at the world’s largest man-made reservoir, the Kariba Dam, has left Zambia and Zimbabwe without power for hours, underscoring the need for both countries to diversify their energy sources, according to Zambia’s Energy Minister Makozo Chikote. “The over-dependence on hydropower has exposed the vulnerability of our energy mix,” Chikote said. “This has been a wake-up call, prompting us to consider alternative energy sources,” he added during an energy summit in Victoria Falls on Monday. The Kariba Dam, which provides the majority of electricity to… Read More Here

Zesco has announced a new power rationing schedule in Zambia, aiming to ensure a consistent 7-hour daily power supply for its customers. The update, shared by Zesco’s Corporate Affairs Department, seeks to improve service reliability by strategically optimizing power imports and maximizing contributions from Independent Power Producers. In its statement, Zesco clarified that while the utility is committed to upholding this schedule, it relies on the availability of imported power and may face unexpected challenges. Should disruptions occur, Zesco will issue real-time updates through SMS, its Facebook page, and other… Read More Here

Tanzania is advancing plans to establish a power grid connection with Zambia to help address Zambia’s drought-related power shortages, announced Deputy Prime Minister Doto Biteko at the Singapore International Energy Week. “We have interconnectors with our neighbors—Rwanda, Burundi, and Kenya—and now we are establishing an interconnector with Zambia to assist our neighbor during this severe drought,” said Biteko, who also serves as the Minister of Energy. As a member of the Eastern African Power Pool, Tanzania has access to a broader market, allowing it to sell surplus electricity to neighboring… Read More Here

Hon. Makoso Chikote, Zambia’s Minister of Energy, addressed the nation on the ongoing power deficit, expressing gratitude for citizens’ resilience during this challenging period. He acknowledged that September was particularly difficult, with prolonged power rationing affecting numerous households and businesses. The power shortage is primarily due to three factors: reduced power generation at the Kariba North Bank Power Station, caused by water allocation challenges from the Zambezi River Authority; maintenance work at the 300MW Maamba Energy Power Plant; and technical issues with the power interconnector to Namibia. Minister Chikote announced… Read More Here

ZESCO has announced that it will be able to provide a more reliable and consistent energy supply during the scheduled hours of load shedding starting Wednesday, following the resumption of full operations at Maamba Energy on Tuesday evening. During a media briefing in Lusaka, Transmission Operations and Trade Director Justin Loongo revealed that ZESCO has secured a guaranteed 400 megawatts of power imports during off-peak and standard times. However, he noted that “for peak periods, inputs will depend on availability, and at peak times, all countries want to domesticate power.”… Read More Here