Climate change: Zambia to shut down hydropower plant as Kariba dries up

Sub: Geo

Sec: Mapping

Impact of Climate Change on Lake Kariba:

Water Levels and Hydropower Generation:
- Climate change-related droughts have caused significant drops in water levels at Lake Kariba, affecting hydropower generation.
- The lake, shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe, is on the Zambezi River, which has suffered from droughts in recent years.
Other Affected Hydropower Plants in Zambia:
- Kafue Gorge: Produces 372 MW against an installed capacity of 990 MW.
- Lower Kafue Gorge: Delivers 179 MW against an installed capacity of 750 MW.
- Itezhi-Tezhi Power Company: Generates 34 MW against an installed capacity of 120 MW.
- The remaining power mix includes 9% from coal, 5% from heavy fuel oil, and 3% from solar.

Lake Kariba:

It is the world’s largest man-made lake and reservoir by volume.
It lies approximately 1,300 kilometres upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Kariba dam is a double curvature concrete arch dam in the Kariba gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The wall spans the Kariba Gorge, forming a boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Lake Kariba and its shores host a diverse array of bird species, such as fish eagles and cormorants, often seen hunting along the shoreline.
The lake also draws elephants and other big game for hydration, creating spectacular scenes of these animals at the water’s edge and bathing in the shallows.

Zambezi River:

The Zambezi River is the fourth-longest river in Africa and the longest east-flowing river on the continent.
It is the largest river flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa.
The river covers a drainage basin of 1,390,000 km² (540,000 sq mi), which is slightly less than half the size of the Nile’s basin.
The river has a total length of 2,574 km (1,599 mi).
Geography:
- Source: Rises in Zambia.
- Course: Flows through eastern Angola, along the north-eastern border of Namibia, and the northern border of Botswana. It then flows along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe before crossing Mozambique.
- Mouth: Empties into the Indian Ocean.
Notable Features:
- Victoria Falls: The most famous feature of the Zambezi River.
- Chavuma Falls: Located at the border between Zambia and Angola.
- Ngonye Falls: Situated near Sioma in western Zambia.
Hydroelectric Power:
- Kariba Dam: Provides power to Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Cahora Bassa Dam: Located in Mozambique, providing power to Mozambique and South Africa.
- Other Power Stations in Zambia:
  - Victoria Falls Power Station: Located at Victoria Falls.
  - Zengamina Power Station: Located near Kalene Hill in the Ikelenge District.

Source: DTE