Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa to open Zambezi spillway at 80% capacity

Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) will open a mid-depth spillway at 80% capacity on 20 September. The operation is scheduled to take place between 05:00 and 18:00.

The measure is intended to ensure the continuity of flow along the Zambezi River and to compensate for its ecological water requirements. This decision follows the total shutdown of the Songo Substation and is part of the implementation of HCB’s Annual Maintenance Programme for its power generation facilities.

HCB described the maneuver as a ‘one-off, controlled and technically approved’ action that does not change the company’s prudent water management strategy ahead of the upcoming rainy season. In planning the release, the company considered hydrological and climatic forecasts, including scenarios associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon. The operation aims to preserve ecosystem balance and support the livelihoods of communities living along the riverbanks.