The Zambezi River Authority has allocated 11 billion cubic meters of water for power generation to Zesco for the year 2020 out of the required 64 billion cubic meters to operate at full capacity.
Zesco managing director Victor Mundende says the 11 billion cubic meters is a reduction from the 17billion cubic meters allocated in 2019 adding that the water allocated is still not enough to meet the country’s demand for power generation.
Mr Mundende said that the Low allocation entails that load shedding across the country is likely to continue.
He has however said that the utility company is working hard to mitigate the effects power generation by completing the Kafue George Lower project and other projects.
And Zesco Director Strategy and Corporate affairs Patrick Mwila said that the country still has a power deficit of 810 megawatts.
Mr Mwila said that the utility company will be forced to continue loadsheding the country to make sure the bank reservoirs at Itezhi Tezhi and Kariba are not completely closed.