Scaling straight down from 1,000 megawatts to 90 megawatts, what happened to Zimbabwe s Kariba power

Zimbabwe's Kariba Power Station is a hydroelectric power station that uses the Kariba reservoir to generate electricity. The Kariba Reservoir power station is a joint operation of Zambia and Zimbabwe, with a maximum capacity of 1,000 megawatts per day. This amount of electricity is barely enough for the daily use of the two countriesBut now that the Kariba hydropower plant has shrunk from 1,000 megawatts to 90 megawatts, generating 10 times less electricity, it is clear that this amount of electricity is not enough.

As a result, frequent power outages in Zambia and Zimbabwe have severely affected people's lives.

01. The precipitation in the rainy season is seriously insufficient, and the water level of the Kariba Reservoir continues to decline

In the past, the water level of the Kariba reservoir was enough to meet the maximum power generation capacity of the hydropower station of 1,000 megawatts, thanks to the abundant rainfall in tropical Africa. The water level of the reservoir can be raised all year round to meet the power supply demand of the hydropower station. But since the beginning of 2019, Zambia and Zimbabwe have experienced a severe lack of precipitation, with no days of rain throughout the summer.

The water level of the reservoir is not replenished by rainwaterIt is necessary to continue to generate electricity, and the water level drops again and again. Power generation has also dropped from 1,000 megawatts to 90 megawatts.

02. The lack of power generation at the Kariba Hydroelectric Power Station has seriously affected the entire country of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is not a rich country in Africa, and its economy is backward and its industry is backward. The electricity use of the whole country is almost just looking at the Kariba hydropower station, which is seriously lacking. In addition to the impact on the lives of ordinary people.

Zimbabwe's industry has also been affected, with power outages lasting more than 18 hours a day. In other words, only 6 hours a day are electric, and some small businesses in Zimbabwe have laid off employees or even closed down because the electricity is not working**. Only big business can barely survive.

03. What Zimbabwe needs to solve is the problem of reservoir water sources

Zimbabwe** is also dealing with dry weather affecting the water level of the reservoir, and as long as the water level of the Kariba reservoir can be raised back, Zimbabwe will be able to use electricity normally**. Although there is another power station in Zimbabwe, the equipment of this Wanji power station is too old, and the electricity** cannot meet the needs of the entire Zimbabwean country.

As far as I know, "the water level in the Kariba reservoir has dropped sharply in recent months, and the situation is likely to intensify." Unlike Zambia's last electricity crisis three years ago, the capacity of the domestic market will be limited by the current power shortage in South Africa and the electricity resources that Zesco previously owes due to the emergency import of electricity from Mozambique and the purchase of electricity from domestic suppliers. ”

Zambia is Africa's second-largest copper producer, with mining accounting for more than half of its electricity demand, and any shortage could lead to a decline in copper production.

Due to the low water level of the dam during the dry season, the maximum power generation of one of Zimbabwe's largest power facilities, the Kariba Hydropower Station, has dropped to the current 475 MWh, far below the previous 750 MWh.

As the world's third largest man-made lake, the lack of water in Lake Kariba will further exacerbate the power shortage in southern African countries, affecting the power supply of industry, mining and residential buildings. Zimbabwe's current power generation capacity is only 1,300 MWh, while demand is 2,200 MWh.

The company said in a statement that it would most likely shut down the Kariba hydropower plant for two months before the onset of the rainy season in November 2015.

The Kariba Power Station is Zimbabwe's main power source**, but the lack of rainfall over the past two rainy seasons has severely lowered the water level at this dam on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Due to problems such as insufficient rainfall and falling water levels, the current daily power generation is only 90 megawatts.

It's because the drought has destroyed the power generation capacity. Zambia has reportedly reduced the amount of electricity generated at the Kariba Hydropower Station due to the rapid drop in the water level of the reservoir. According to the Zimbabwe National Electricity Corporation, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the water quota for the hydropower plant, which can only control the average power generation to 358 MW to avoid the complete depletion of the dam water resources, which now only 24 of the reservoir water demand remains.

The world's largest man-made dam is currently in a state of emergency and needs to reach an electricity import agreement with South Africa's ESKOM by September to avoid a dire power situation with nationwide blackouts.

Zimbabwe's average electricity demand at its peak was 1,800 MW, but due to outdated equipment and drought, the country's domestic power generation capacity is limited to a maximum of 800-900 MW. The drought has undermined the power generation capacity of southern Kariba, and CEO Patrick Chivaura said in an interview with the Mail on Sunday that Zeisa is generating electricity in accordance with Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) regulations to provide water for the next season. Last week, the current water level in Hariba was 24.

We were allowed to produce an average of 358 MW to save water for the next season.

The Kariba Dam is designed to have a maximum water storage capacity of 485 meters and a minimum storage capacity of 475 meters. This is the lowest water level used to generate electricity, the so-called domestic water. Below 475 meters, the water from the dam can only be used for recreation and fishing.

Due to the long storage time, continuing to discharge the dam through the power generation would deplete the reservoir and jeopardize the opportunity to draw electricity from the reservoir in the next quarter. Due to the drought of the Zambezi River caused by the El Niño phenomenon, the catchment area extends 2,700 kilometers north of Zambia. The Kariba Dam is shared with neighboring Zambia, which generates electricity on the north bank of the river.

The dam may not be able to build enough water storage to support significant power production before the Zambezi River flows begin to peak in March or April next year. This is because the Zambezi River starts from the plateau in the northern part of the flood plain and reaches the plateau plain, forming the Barosei flood plain, which absorbs a large amount of water and eventually releases it into the rainy season during the saturation period of Zambezi.

The Kariba power station had some minor problems that required some technicians to solve them, so it led to a direct downsizing.

The main thing is that there is a problem with the line and the procedure, so it leads to fatal injury, and this power station, in fact, is no longer working.

Due to the economic power of their own country, the Kariba power plant is no longer able to consume such a large amount of electricity to keep it running.