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Hydrological Outlook Update at Kariba Dam: Declining Water Levels Amidst Drought Concerns
ReplyDelete*Lusaka, 27th August 2024* — Eng. Sithembinkosi Mhlanga, Acting Chief Executive of the Zambezi River Authority, has released an update on the hydrological outlook for the Kariba Catchment, revealing a continuous decline in water levels at the Kariba Dam, primarily due to the ongoing recession of Zambezi River flows.
### Zambezi River Flows: A Steady Decline
According to Eng. Mhlanga, "data from the Chavuma gauging station shows that the Zambezi River’s flow has been consistently decreasing over the past month." He noted that "as of 27th August 2024, the river flow was recorded at 102 cubic meters per second (m³/s), significantly lower than the 128 m³/s recorded on the same date last year." He emphasized, "this marks a notable reduction compared to previous weeks, reflecting a troubling trend as water levels continue to recede."
He further explained, "at Victoria Falls, another key gauging station, the river flows have also been decreasing, with the latest figures showing a flow of 324 m³/s, down from 457 m³/s on the same date in 2023." Mhlanga attributed the lower-than-average flows at Victoria Falls to "the severe drought experienced during the 2023/2024 rainfall season, which has had a profound impact on the region’s water resources."
### Kariba Dam Water Levels: A Cause for Concern
Mhlanga expressed concern over the situation at the Kariba Dam, stating that "water levels have been steadily dropping, with the latest measurements indicating a level of 476.75 meters above sea level (ASL) as of 27th August 2024." He pointed out that "this represents a decrease of 2.59 meters compared to the same period in 2023, when the level was recorded at 479.34 meters ASL." According to him, "the dam’s current water volume stands at 5.59 billion cubic meters (BCM), representing just 8.64% of its total capacity—a stark contrast to the 27.02% capacity observed last year."
### Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) 2024: Future Predictions
Mhlanga highlighted the ongoing Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) 2024, stating that "this meeting, which brings together local, regional, and international weather experts, aims to develop a consensus outlook for the upcoming 2024/2025 rainfall season." He assured that "the detailed rainfall forecast for the Kariba catchment will be provided by the respective meteorological departments of Zambia and Zimbabwe after the conclusion of the forum."
### Power Generation Considerations
Mhlanga also reassured the public, stating that "the forthcoming rainfall forecast will be used to perform detailed hydrological simulations with our Kariba Hydrological Inflow Forecasting Software System (IFS)." He explained, "this will determine the water allocation for power generation operations at the Kariba Dam for the year 2025." Mhlanga confirmed that "as is customary, the water allocation will be equally shared between ZESCO Limited in Zambia and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), who operate the Kariba North Bank and South Bank Power Stations, respectively."
### Continued Monitoring and Public Assurance
Mhlanga emphasized the authority's commitment, saying, "the Zambezi River Authority remains committed to monitoring the hydrological conditions of the Kariba Catchment and ensuring that any developments or changes are promptly communicated to the public." He assured, "the authority’s vigilant oversight is crucial for managing the dam’s water levels and ensuring the sustainable use of this vital resource."
Mhlanga reiterated that "the Zambezi River Authority, a bilateral organization jointly owned by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, is tasked with operating, maintaining, and regulating water levels in the Kariba Reservoir, as well as other dam infrastructures on the Zambezi River." He added, "the authority continues to collect and process hydrological data to support the socio-economic development of the region."
*End