Zambia's power utility said on Friday that it will continue its electricity rationing program despite the country recording improved rains.
About 90 percent of Zambia's electricity comes from hydro and lack of sufficient rains last season forced the power utility to implement a rationing program, which even reached 18 hours at some point.
Zesco Limited said power generation at the country's main hydropower plant, Kariba, was still restricted due to the low water levels attributed to the reduced inflows into the lake despite the heavy rains experienced this season.
"Load shedding of up to 12 hours daily remains critical to protect the power system from collapse and ensure that the available power is shared equitably, and generation is sustained into the next rainy season," Hazel Zulu, the power utility's public relations manager said in a release.
According to her, the severe drought experienced last year resulted in the water at the Kariba dam to be depleted, leaving the dam at its lowest.
"As at 12 March 2020, the water levels at Kariba was at 12 percent full compared with 42.99 percent full at the same time last year. The ideal capacity of the lake is 69 percent full, implying that the levels are significantly low," she added.
Editor:Cherie
