Zambia Weighs Emergency Power Price Hike as Crunch Deepens

  • El Nino-induced drought has drained hydropower reservoirs
  • Zambia may have to shut down Kariba plant by end-September

High voltage electricity power lines in Kitwe, Zambia.

Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg

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Zambia’s energy regulator is considering an application from the state-owned power utility to increase electricity tariffs by as much as 156% as an emergency measure to cover drought-induced losses.

The price rise will help Zesco Ltd., as the utility is known, to raise $14 million from retail electricity users, the Energy Regulation Board said in in a statement published on its website Aug. 16.