ZRA Increases Water Allocation for 2026 Power Generation

The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has announced a 30 billion cubic metres (BCM) water allocation for power generation at Lake Kariba in 2026, representing a significant increase from the previous year's allocation.

The water will be equally divided between Zambia's Zesco Limited and Zimbabwe's Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), with each utility receiving 15 BCM. This marks an improvement from 2025's initial allocation of 27 BCM, later revised to 28 BCM.

ZRA Acting Chief Executive Engineer Christopher Chisense said the increased allocation is based on normal to above-normal rainfall forecasts for the 2025/2026 rainy season, as projected by the Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum and regional meteorological agencies.

Despite normal rainfall during the 2024/2025 season, lake levels remained lower than historical averages but showed improvement compared to 2024, which was severely affected by drought conditions.

Chisense emphasised that while ZRA allocates water resources, it does not generate electricity or manage load distribution. He advised consumers to consult Zesco Limited and ZPC directly for electricity supply updates.

The Authority will continue monitoring rainfall patterns, water inflows, and lake levels through thirteen monitoring stations across the Kariba catchment, providing regular updates throughout the rainy season.

This increased allocation offers hope for improved power generation capacity for both Zambia and Zimbabwe in the coming year.