ZESCO Announces 8 Hour Daily Load Shedding Starting March 11, 2024
In a significant development impacting power supply throughout Zambia, Victor Mapani, the Managing Director of ZESCO, has announced the commencement of 8-hour daily load shedding starting Monday, March 11, 2024. This decision follows a thorough assessment of water levels in the Kafue and Zambezi basins.
Addressing the media in Lusaka, Mr Mapani clarified that implementing load shedding has become necessary due to declining water levels, directly affecting power generation capacity. He highlighted an anticipated monthly loss of approximately $35 million for ZESCO due to load shedding.
Mr Mapani assured the public that ZESCO would release the first weekly load-shedding schedule by Saturday to allow individuals and businesses to prepare accordingly. The schedule will include morning, afternoon, and evening periods for load shedding throughout the day.
The decision to initiate load shedding underscores the seriousness of Zambia’s energy resource situation and emphasizes the importance of sustainable energy management strategies.