Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) yesterday revealed that the Kariba Power Station will thus be reduced to an average of 358MW from the planned 542MW as a direct result of a reduction in water allocation.
The power company says the low rainfall season for the year 2018 and 2019 has led to low water inflows into Kake Kariba.
“Whilst normal generation has been subsisting up to now, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has reduced water allocation to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) from 19 billion cubic meters for 2019, the company says. “This is to enable the plant to be operational until the next rainy season.”
“The water supply situation and thus generation at Kariba will be reviewed as the year progresses.”
ZETDC, however, refutes social media reports of load shedding.
The company says it has not yet publicised any load shedding schedule and customers should dismiss those that are circulating on social media.
“ZETDC is in the process of finalising the load shedding schedules which will be published in the mainstream media as soon as they are ready, so as to enable consumers to plan in line with the available power supply situation,” the company says.
“The power utility urges consumers to disregard the misleading social media messages, and apologises for the inconvenience caused.”
ZETDC went on to say that every effort is being directed to improve the generation capacity to ensure that supply disruptions are kept at a minimum.
“Generation at Hwange Power Station and Small Thermal power stations of Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati remain fragile due to old age,” ZETDC says.
“In the event that this supply and demand equilibrium is not maintained, the power utility would have no choice but to curtail some loads to restore grid stability.”
