Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
Water levels continue to rise at Lake Kariba but the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) says there is no cause for alarm as the lake is unlikely to spill this year.
In an update on Tuesday, ZRA said the water levels in the lake have been rising due to an increase in local rainfall activity and flows from Zambezi River.
It said based on information from its 14 gauging stations located within the Kariba catchment area, coupled with obtaining usable storage and projected inflows, the lake is unlikely to spill this year.
“We wish to state that there is no likelihood of any spilling of water at the Kariba Dam this year,” said ZRA.
It said while water levels continue rising in the world’s largest man-made lake, the likelihood of filling the dam this year remains very low.
When there are heavy inflows leading to the spilling of the dam, ZRA opens four spillway gates to protect the dam’s infrastructure.
The floodgates are usually opened when there are heavy rains in the Zambezi catchment area, particularly in Angola and Namibia.
The gates have previously been opened in 2001, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
The ZRA, however, said it is monitoring Cyclone Freddy which according to reports might affect seven countries in the region.
The rise in water levels at the lake has seen Kariba South Station increasing its power generation capacity from 250 megawatts to 350 megawatts. — @skhumoyo2000
Online Reporter