Mozambique: Gold production to increase by 3% in 2024 - government
Cahora Bassa. File photo
The Intergovernmental Plan on Climate Change (IPCC), a body created by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) to study the problem of climate change, classifies the Zambezi basin as having suffered the worst effects of climate change – rising temperatures and reduced rainfall – among the 11 largest hydrological basins in Africa.
The 2015-16 hydrological year is considered to have been the driest in the last 35 years in Southern Africa, leading to a reduction in water storage at the Kariba dam in Zimbabwe, Kafue in Zambia and Cahora Bassa in Mozambique: 12.7 percent, 42 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
Water managers and operators in the Zambezi basin, concerned about this scenario, are meeting in Maputo to identify the solutions.
According to the executive manager of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric (HCB), Nelson Beete, last year there was an evolution in water storage capacity, but the scenario worsened this year as the level of precipitation in January and February was low.
“This scenario leads us to continue power supply restrictions this year, though not as severe as before. Weather forecasts this year will tell us what we can expect in 2019. In terms of energy production, the Cahora Bassa dam reduced energy production capacity by 15 percent, meaning that we lowered the annual electricity production from 15,000 gigawatts to about 13,600 gigawatts per hour. We have been forced to reduce the number of generators in use, a measure which continues this year,” Beete reported
On the first day of the forum, participants highlighted improvement in meteorological forecasting as a matter of urgency.
“First of all, we want to improve our forecasting accuracy, because what happened last year is worrying: we had good forecasts but ended up disappointed. Secondly, we want to be able to share the instruments we have as SADC members in order to allow the rational and equitable use of water resources in the Zambezi basin.”
The engineer said there was good cooperation, exchange of information and coordination with Zambia and Zimbabwe in the equitable use of water to generate electricity. Beete said that the financial health of the Cahora Bassa hydroelectric power plant was un affected and that decisions coming out of the meeting should ensure that future generations did not experience water shortage.
By Joaquim Manhique
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.