Cape Times

Kariba dam’s capacity plunges to 17%

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LEVELS at the Kariba hydropower dam that borders Zimbabwe and Zambia fell to 17 percent of capacity from 53 percent a year ago, partly on decreased water inflows from the Zambezi river amid below average rainfall.

The water level at the world’s biggest man-made dam fell to 477.95m above sea level by Monday, just 2.5m more than the minimum operating threshold, the Zambezi River Authority, which regulates China, looming US interest rate hikes and an ongoing domestic electricit­y crisis could all put further pressure on the economy, he said.

Zambia should charge higher electricit­y tariffs for its mines to attract investment in Kariba on behalf of the two government­s, said on its website on Tuesday.

Flows of the Zambezi river at Victoria Falls were 24 percent lower than a year ago.

Kariba’s reduced output has led to power cuts in both nations, forcing some miners in Zambia to agree to scale back energy consumptio­n.

Both nations have faced accusation­s of drawing too much water out of the reservoir. – Bloomberg power generation, the World Bank said, a move that would be unpopular with mining firms that consume 55 percent of the country’s power.

Zambia’s director of energy, Oscar Kalumiana, said the government was already talking

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