Kariba power water allocation slashed to 23 billion cubic metres for 2027
The Zambezi River Authority has significantly reduced water allocations for power generation at Kariba Dam for 2027 due to expected El Niño-induced drought. The allocation will be split between Zimbabwe and Zambia, with officials warning of critically low water levels by the end of the year.
Why it matters
The reduction threatens energy security for both Zambia and Zimbabwe, which rely heavily on the Kariba Dam for electricity production.
THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has slashed water allocations for power generation at Kariba Dam to 23 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2027, warning of a potentially dry season due to El Niño conditions.
The allocation, which will be shared equally between Zambia’s ZESCO Limited and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), gives each utility 11.5 BCM, down from the combined 36 BCM allocated for 2026.
In a statement by acting chief executive officer Peter Kapinga on Wednesday, the authority said the decision was informed by the 33rd Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-33), held in Swakopmund, Namibia, from August 25 to 28, 2026, as well as localised forecasts from meteorological agencies in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in