THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has announced that it will allocate 27 billion cubic metres of water to be shared equally between ZESCO and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) for power generation in 2025, with each utility receiving 13.5 billion cubic metres.

Last year, ZRA announced that it had allocated 16 billion cubic metres of water to be shared equally between Zesco and Kariba Hydro Power Company for power generation in 2024.

In a statement, Friday, ZRA chief executive officer, Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the water allocation will be reviewed at the end of the first quarter of 2025.

The State-run ZPC operates five stations that generate Zimbabwe's electricity: a hydroelectric station at the Kariba Dam, the Hwange Thermal Power Station and three minor coal-fired stations.

The country also imports some of its electricity from South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique. South Africa, however, is experiencing even worse load shedding than Zimbabwe. Zambia and Zimbabwe share the power generated at Kariba Dam.

All of the coal-fired stations need maintenance and stop frequently or are not producing at all.

According to a report published by the Zimbabwe Power Company, because of old and broken equipment at the Hwange Thermal Power Station and a lack of foreign currency to import electricity, the company cannot produce enough energy.

The report also revealed that lower water levels in Lake Kariba led to less power generation and an increased need for load shedding.