ZESCO Faces Power Supply Challenges as Mozambique Halts Electricity Exports
ZESCO Limited has announced significant changes to its power supply schedule following an unexpected disruption in electricity imports from Mozambique. The state-owned power utility revealed that Mozambique’s Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) has indefinitely suspended power exports to Zambia due to the shutdown of some of its power generation facilities. This interruption has led to a drastic reduction of up to 300 megawatts in the electricity Zambia typically imports to supplement its own supply.
In a statement issued by the ZESCO Corporate Communications Department, the company explained that the imported power was critical in bridging the gap created by Zambia’s reduced hydropower generation capacity. The country has faced persistent challenges with its primary energy source due to droughts that have significantly lowered water levels in key reservoirs, including the Kariba Dam.
“The sudden unavailability of these power imports has placed an additional strain on Zambia’s already limited electricity supply. As a result, ZESCO has been forced to adopt emergency load management measures to ensure the available power is distributed as fairly and efficiently as possible,” the statement outlined.
The utility company has adjusted its load management schedule, reducing the daily power supply for residential customers. While customers had been receiving an average of seven hours of power supply, this duration will now be curtailed until the situation improves. ZESCO acknowledged the inconvenience this would cause and called for patience and cooperation from consumers.
A Strain on Energy Security
This development highlights the vulnerabilities in Zambia’s energy infrastructure, which is heavily dependent on hydropower. With climate change exacerbating weather variability and reducing water availability, the country’s power sector has increasingly turned to imports to fill supply gaps. However, disruptions like the one from Mozambique underscore the need for Zambia to diversify its energy sources.
Stakeholders in the energy sector have renewed calls for urgent investment in alternative power solutions such as solar, wind, and thermal energy to reduce reliance on imports and mitigate future crises. Experts argue that such diversification is key to ensuring long-term energy security and economic stability for Zambia.
ZESCO has reassured the public that it is working around the clock to explore short-term and long-term solutions to the current power deficit. The company emphasized its commitment to keeping customers informed and urged all electricity users to adopt energy-saving practices wherever possible to help manage the situation.
Looking Ahead
As the situation unfolds, ZESCO plans to provide regular updates on the power supply schedule and any new developments regarding the restoration of imports from Mozambique. The company expressed its hope that the shutdown of Mozambique’s power plants would be resolved quickly, enabling a return to normalcy in the energy supply chain.
In the meantime, ZESCO has reiterated its commitment to finding innovative solutions to ensure the resilience of Zambia’s power sector. For now, however, customers will need to adapt to the emergency measures as the nation navigates this energy supply challenge.
