Dar es Salaam, 20 March
The prolonged dry spell in the lower reaches of the Kariba Dam, which borders Zimbabwe and Zambia, has led to a reduced influx of water into the world’s largest man-made lake, but inflows are expected to increase in the second quarter of 2022.
In the second update for the year on the hydrological situation in Lake Kariba, which was released on Saturday, the CEO of the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) Munyaradzi Munodawafa said that the lake level had risen by 478.35 m, recorded on January 1st. 2022, before returning to 478.52. m recorded March 18, reports Xinhua News Agency.
ZRA is a bi-national organization that is mandated to contribute to the economic, industrial and social development of Zimbabwe and Zambia by reaping the greatest possible benefits from the natural benefits decided upon by the two countries.
Both countries operate power stations on the banks of the dam, which have been expanded in recent years to generate more electricity.
“The increase in lake level in early January 2022 was mainly due to sustained rainfall activity in the Kariba Lower Catchment, but the lake level then declined due to a reduction in rainfall activity,” Munodawafa said.
“During that period, the Kariba overcatchment, which contributes most of the inflows into Lake Kariba, experienced a late onset of precipitation activity. The lake level of 478.52 m, recorded on March 14, 2022, meant that the lake is at 3.02 meters above the minimum operation level (MOL) of 475.50 m. ” This translates into 13.66 billion cubic centimeters (BCM) of stored usable water or 21.07 percent live storage available for energy production, he said.
At the same date in 2021, the lake level was higher at 481.44 m with 27.62 BCM of stored usable water or 42.62 percent of the livestock storage, with the lake level being 5.94 m above the MOL.
Munodawafa said despite the delayed start of precipitation activities in the Kariba Upper Catchment, preliminary hydrological simulations by ZRA indicated that due to the continued upwelling rain activity that was recorded, the lake level rises in the second quarter of the year. .
“The simulations also indicated that the lake is likely to reach a peak of 480.30 m by June 18, 2022, bringing the lake to 4.8 m above the MOL with 22.06 BCM of stored usable water or 34 percent. Live storage available for power sets. Generation), “he said.
He said ZRA would retain the 45 BCM of water allocated to ZESCO Limited and Zimbabwe Power Company for their respective power generation operations in the Caribbean by 2022.
ZESCO Limited is the state power company of Zambia.
“In line with its mandate, the authority will conduct a detailed quarterly review of the hydrological outlook on the Caribbean in early April 2022,” he said. IANS
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