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Droughts caused by climate change have caused a significant drop in the water level of Lake Kariba, seriously affecting hydropower generation in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The lake, which is shared by both countries and lies on the Zambezi River, is experiencing record low water levels due to an ongoing drought exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon.
Zambia’s power utility ZESCO has announced that the Kariba North Bank Power Station will shut down on September 14, 2024 due to extremely low water levels (currently at just 8% of available reserves).
The lake’s live water reserves, vital for hydroelectric power generation, have dwindled to just 1.26 metres, leaving Zambia and Zimbabwe with no choice but to drastically cut power generation.
The crisis has caused severe power outages across Zambia, with blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day, while Zimbabwe has faced blackouts of up to 12 hours. Both countries rely heavily on hydropower and are now rushing to diversify their energy sources. Zambia is exploring emergency power imports and investing in new coal and solar power plants to ease energy shortages.
Experts warn that conditions could deteriorate further before the rainy season is expected to arrive in three months. The ongoing drought highlights the urgent need for southern African countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change and expand their energy mix to ensure stability and security.
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