Zambia: Utility increases the duration of rolling power cuts through September /update 7

Zambia's energy provider, ZESCO, will likely continue to implement prolonged periods of rolling power cuts, causing further disruptions through late September. The utility announced that it would increase the duration of power interruptions to at least 21 hours a day for its residential clients and prioritize critical infrastructure on Sept. 21. This is due to a drop in energy imports from Namibia, as well as the planned maintenance of power plants. The utility had previously increased their duration to 12 hours in May and to 20 hours in August, likely due to insufficient power generation from the Kariba Dam. The Zambezi River Authority, which manages the dam, reported that water levels had dropped to around 8.3 percent in early September 2024, compared to 26 percent in early September 2023.

While authorities estimated that planned maintenance will only last through mid-September, energy imports and low-water levels could persist in the coming weeks and possibly months. Temporary commercial and communications disruptions are possible while load management and unscheduled disruptions occur; cellular and mobile services could be affected. Traffic disruptions and longer driving times are possible during these periods due to malfunctioning traffic signals. Power outages could also result in temporarily unavailable essential services such as ATMs and filling stations. There is an increased security threat during power outages. Blackouts could adversely affect security protocols, including alarm systems and electronic fences; opportunistic criminal activity could increase during electricity outages.