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Harare residents have accused politicians from across the political divide of taking them for granted as water and electricity challenges that had eased in the run-up to the 23 August Harmonised Elections have now intensified.
During the electoral campaigns, senior ZANU PF politicians boldly proclaimed that load shedding was a thing of the past after the completion of two power generation units at Hwange Power Station.
The opposition CCC, which controls the Harare City Council, promised the electorate consistent water supplies.
Now residents are saying political parties’ campaign messaging was based on lies and deception as the water crisis and power cuts have become the order of the day, less than a month after the disputed elections.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner, with 52.6% of the vote while his party, ZANU PF, won a Parliamentary majority
Speaking to <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/power-water-crisis-haunt-post-election-zim/">Business Times</a> this week, Harare Residents Trust (HRT) director Precious Shumba said residents were taken for a ride by politicians. He said:
<blockquote>
Most suburbs have gone for a very long time without water in particular following the 23 August elections.
During the period in the run-up to the elections, most residents had access to municipal water, but soon after the elections the water supply almost dwindled or deteriorated to the extent that residents daily queue at community boreholes.
It is very sad that people are spending three to four hours queueing for water. Fights break out and the most affected are women and young girls.
It’s very sad that in some cases we do not have communities receiving bowsers from the local authorities. So, the situation is really desperate, it’s very bad.
</blockquote>
Shumba said the City of Harare should consider drawing water from Darwendale Dam, which is downstream of the heavily polluted main supply dam, Chivero. He said:
<blockquote>
Going forward we believe that the best solution would be for the City of Harare to get some of its water from Darwendale dam and they can also improve the situation by focusing on the replacement of underground water pipes that are obsolete and aged because currently when the city pumps its water nearly 40% is going to waste through leakages and bursts along the water distribution network.
So, if they address this it means that the little water pumped will reach the intended households.
</blockquote>
Harare residents are at risk of contracting water-borne diseases as they are now being forced to use water from shallow wells.
There were fears of a diarrhoea outbreak at the University of Zimbabwe that had gone for days without water.
Load shedding is not affecting Harare residents only, but Zimbabweans across the country.
The situation will likely get worse as the water level at Lake Kariba, the site of the country’s only reliable power plant, continues to fall.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Electricity, Water Cuts Haunt Post-election Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC)’s Harare Thermal Power Plant is now producing electricity after undergoing routine maintenance, while the Hwange Thermal Power Plant has increased generation from less than 80MW last week to more than 390MW.
Harare power station is an approximately 90-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station located along Coventry Road in Harare Metropolitan Province.
According to generation statistics released by ZPC, on Tuesday, 7 March 2023, Harare was generating 10MW, Hwange 391MW, and Kariba South Bank Power Station 292MW giving a total of 693MW, up from 260MW last Friday.
Meanwhile, the Kariba Dam water level is rising gradually. According to Zimbabwe River Authority (ZRA), as of 06 March 2023, Lake Kariba had 15.15% of usable storage meant for power generation.
However, Zimbabwe’s peak electricity demand in Summer is 1 800MW. The country is currently importing a reported 500MW from South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique.
This means that Zimbabwe currently has a deficit of more than 600MW and this results in unscheduled prolonged power outages euphemistically referred to as load shedding.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare Power Station Now Generating Electricity

Zimbabwe’s power crisis has deepened as the total generation by the country’s power utility, ZESA Holdings, has continued to fall since the end of February.
According to the Zimbabwe Power Company, ZESA Holdings’ subsidiary responsible for power generation, on 03 March 2023, the total output from its five power stations was 260MW.
This is against a national demand of 1 700MW in the summer and 2 200MW in the winter.
Kariba was generating 173MW, Hwange 87MW, while Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati were producing zero.
ZPC recently revealed that several units at Hwange Thermal Power Station, whose installed capacity is 920MW, had broken down and only one unit (Unit 2) was working. According to ZPC:
<ul>
<li>Unit 4 was switched off on 15 February after developing a boiler tube leak</li>
<li>Unit 1 was taken off on February 24 after a high-pressure fan got damaged</li>
<li>Unit 3 was stopped on February 24 after developing a tube leak</li>
<li>Unit 6 was switched off on February 23 after developing a tube leak</li>
<li>Unit 5 tripped in October 2021 due to excessive turbine vibrations</li>
</ul>
The electricity crisis is compounded by the fact that the Kariba South Bank Hydro Power Station is also generating well below its installed capacity of 1 050MW due to a shortage of water and breakdowns. 
On the state of the Kariba power station, ZPC said:
<ul>
<li>Unit 4 was taken out on July 20 2022 due to a damaged turbine runner</li>
<li>Generator 1 was switched off on February 2 2023 for turbine runner inspection. Inspections were completed but it’s been placed on annual maintenance</li>
<li>Unit 8 tripped on 20 December 2022 due to GTx 8 fault and is being replaced</li>
<li>Unit 6 was taken out on December 16 2022 for an annual overhaul and machine cooling water pipework replacement</li>
</ul>
Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda recently told Members of Parliament that two new units, Unit 7 and Unit 8 will be going online in March and April, respectively. The units are expected to generate 300MW each.
Zhemu said Zimbabwe is currently importing a combined 500MW from Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's Power Crisis Deepens As Generation Falls To 260MW

The Kariba South power station, which is a 1 050MW hydroelectric power plant, has increased its generation capacity to 401 megawatts (MW) from around 200MW in previous weeks.
According to the latest Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) generation statistics published on 20 December 2022, Kariba has now doubled its power output.
The statistics show that Munyati is producing 17MW, Kariba 401MW, and Hwange 429MW; giving a total of 847MW.
However, the two small coal-fired power stations in Harare and Bulawayo were not generating anything.
Zimbabwe has been facing acute power shortages due to reduced power generation at Kariba caused by low water levels.
Kariba Hydro supplies around 70 percent of the country’s electricity.

Kariba Power Station Doubles Electricity Output

The government says it has mobilised US$34 million towards the importation of electricity from regional producers to augment local generation.
Speaking in the National Assembly last week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said US$34 million is being processed to assist the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to import electricity. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>
We have intervened in terms of emergency resources to support both ZETDC and ZPC to the tune of US$34 million to source power from outside.
Unfortunately, that is the best we can do immediately and this is being processed over the next seven days.
</blockquote>
Ncube also said the government will on Monday, 19 December announce independent power producers (IPPs) that will get support to generate power to meet national demand. He said:
<blockquote>
I am happy to report that we have thoroughly concluded the structure and framework of what we call the Government Implementation Agreement to support investment from the Independent Power Producers (IPPS).
It will cover three areas — an appropriate level of tariffs; Government guarantees on the power purchase agreement and also guarantee currency compatibility.
They have asked for these three things and we have put three of the projects on a pilot.
We are now satisfied that we can as Government support GIA to cover those three areas.
Monday next week, we will make a formal announcement and this will go a long way in the medium term in dealing with the power situation.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing one of its worst power crises, with electricity users spending up to 18 hours per day in the dark.
On 19 December 2022, ZPC was generating a total of 672MW from three power stations, Hwange (433), Kariba (221), and Munyati (18). Harare and Bulawayo power stations were not generating anything. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200005218/govt-releases-us34-million-for-electricity-imports">NewsDay</a>

Govt Releases US$34 Million For Power Imports

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda recently issued a ministerial statement on the current electricity crisis. Below is his full ministerial statement to Parliament:
<blockquote>
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for allowing me this opportunity to present a Ministerial Statement on the state of electricity supply that is currently obtaining in the country. Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a depressed power supply situation which was exacerbated by the reduced power production from Kariba Power Station.
Besides the usual challenges of aged equipment at the country’s thermal power stations, climate change effects have hit hard on us at the Kariba South Hydro Power Plant where the dam that supports generation of power has received much reduced water inflows due to the poor 2021-2022 rain season.
The water levels at Kariba Dam have gone down such that power generation at the dam had to be curtailed.
You might be aware Mr. Speaker Sir that on Friday, 25th November this year, the Zambezi River Authority notified the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) that the utility had exhausted its water allocation for 2022 and there was need for the power station to be completely shut down.
The shutdown of the power plant would have had the following impacts: about 70% of the country’s power supply would have been lost as a result of shutting down the power station.
The network stabilization would also have been disturbed which ordinarily would be done through Kariba Power Station.
The Ministry engaged its counterparts in Zambia through meetings which were held at board level and also there was a recommendation from the board to allow the two utilities to engage.
It was through those engagements that the Council of Ministers had an Extra Ordinary Meeting to allow ZPC to continue generating from Kariba Power Station but this time at a reduced capacity of between 250 to 300 megawatts.
This effectively resulted in loss of about 300 megawatts capacity on our grid, increasing our power deficit to over 500 megawatts.
The country’s current available internal generation capacity gets to around 800mgw and the power is contributed as follows: from Hwange there is a generation of up to 400mgw which we are currently obtaining.
Kariba is running between 250mgw and 300mgw and then from the small thermals there is a contribution of 30mgw, which we are currently having.
Independent power producers are contributing a total of 56mgw to make up for the 800mgw which we are generating internally.
We are also getting some imports of electricity from Eskom, which is supplying us with 100mgw and another 50mgw from utilities in Mozambique called HCB and EDM also supplying 50mgw.
ZESCO of Zambia has an agreement with ZESA for the supply of 100mgw and in total, we are getting 300mgw as power imports.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, in order to mitigate the current shortfall that was occasioned mainly by the reduced power generation from Kariba Power Station the Ministry together with ZESA have come up with some measures.
The first one is to increase our imports, which I have already indicated that we are currently receiving 300mgw. We intend to increase by an additional 500mgw which we are targeting to get from Mozambique and from the Southern African Power Pool.
Discussions are currently underway for an additional capacity of 150mgw from Mozambique, particularly from EDM power utility.
We will also get another 50mgw from the participation of ZESA at the Southern Africa Power Pool Electricity Market to give us an additional 200mgw over and above the 300mgw which we are currently importing.
Another measure is to ramp up local generation. There is potential to increase generation at Hwange Power Station and I have already indicated that at the moment, we are getting 400mgw and the intention is to have it staying on the grid and sending that 400mgw.
Then from the small thermal power stations, we are intending to increase production and to obtain a contribution of 45mgw. The independent power producers who are currently connected to the grid would be expected to contribute around 75mgw with special focus on ZEE which is to us a low hanging fruit currently sending out 17mgw but their capacity is 40mgw.
They have depressed power generation as a result of incapacitation, which we are currently working on in terms of the coal which they require for power generation.
To that end, a rescue package has been proposed from the Government to cover for additional imports, coal supply and transport costs which have been an inhibiting factor to have adequate coal supplies at the small thermal power stations.
Discussions are currently underway with Treasury for the release of the rescue package. The other measure is to work on the demand side management.
Intensive power users are being engaged to reduce the load and also employ efficiencies in their operations.
Domestic customers are also encouraged to implement energy conservation measures like switching off switches and also to work on the restricted use of electricity geysers and use of efficient gadgets such as efficient lights, fridges and other appliances.
Various platforms are being used like the radio, social media, television and newspapers for members of the public to be aware of the need to conserve the available electricity.
ZESA is expediting the installation of prepaid and smart meters to improve the management of electricity consumption.
The other measure is to get the excess capacity through the net metering facility which allows customers with excess capacity from their generators like solar systems on rooftops to be connected to the grid.
There are some advantages which can be enjoyed by the producers of electricity themselves. You are aware that a normal solar system should be having some storage facilities but through this facility, you only need to have your solar panels and you will use the grid to bank your electricity which you will be withdrawing during times when you are out of production.
Currently, 5 megawatts of capacity have been connected to the grid and we are targeting an additional 7mgw.
ZESA is working flat out to ensure that these customers with excess capacity of 7mgw are immediately connected to the grid.
There shall also be an immediate review of the hydrological situation at Kariba Power Station. The reduction in the power generation capacity has been occasioned by the low water levels in the Kariba Dam.
The minimum operating level of the dam is 475.5mt above sea level. What it means is that any water that is above 475.5mt becomes the live lake storage which will be used for power generation.
For 2022, we had a total allocation of 45 billion cubic meters provided by ZRA, which was shared by our two utilities, ZESA and ZESCO.
ZESA exhausted our 22.5 billion cubic meters but inflows have just started to collect into the dam and there shall be an immediate review in January 2023. We hope that is going to ease the current load curtailment which is obtaining.
In the medium term, there shall be some interventions especially by way of the rehabilitation of the current Hwange station on the existing units 1 to 6.
Already, work is in progress and the detailed project report giving the scope of works to be done at the power station has been finalised and it was accepted by the project owners which are ZESA Holdings and we are seized with ensuring that my Ministry and the Ministry of Finance engages the Indian Exim Bank to also endorse on the detailed project report so that disbursements can immediately commence for the purposes of the rehabilitation of Hwange Power Station.
The intention is to bring that power station, the current Units 1 – 6 to the installed capacity of 920 mw, which if added to the expansion project which we are expecting to produce 600 mw, the total that will be coming from Hwange Power Station will come to 1520 mw.
In the long term, there shall be massive exploitation of hydro-power potential along the Zambezi River and the immediate one is through Batoka Hydro Electric Scheme which has a potential of producing 2 400 mw and as we speak, a feasibility study was concluded and the environmental impact studies have also been endorsed.
Another measure is on Government giving support to the independent power producers. The focus will be on solar PV generation projects. Currently, a total of 100 licenced projects have been licenced by ZERA.
My Ministry is engaging the Ministry of Finance to help de-risk the independent power producer projects through provision of Government implementation agreements for projects which have been awaiting Government guarantee to reach financial closure.
As we speak, three pilot projects have so far received Government implementation agreements and standard power purchase agreement documents. My Ministry is also finalising on the formulation of competitive procurement framework. This is work in progress and we hope by the first quarter of 2023 this will have been finalised.
I now come to the progress on the Hwange Expansion Project through Unit 7 and 8. The project involved the installation of 2 x 300 mw generation units at Hwange Thermal Power Station.
The project has surpassed 97% completion. The completion of Unit 7 is currently under way with the unit expected to be synchronised to the grid before the end of this month and we will be getting around 300 mw once the commission tests reaches commercial operations but as we commence the synchronisation or commercialisation, we will not immediately get to the 300 mw.
There shall be some connections and disconnections and testing of various performances during this process but this synchronisation will be achieved before end of this month.
Commissioning of Unit 8 will follow immediately after Unit 7 has achieved commercial operation and is expected to take not more than two months after reaching commercial operations of Unit 7.
These interventions will ease the current power supply situation and the Government is seized with the implementation of these measures. I submit.
</blockquote>

FULL TEXT: Minister Of Energy Issues Statement On Power Crisis

Business has warned that the debilitating power crisis that has hit Zimbabwe is crippling the manufacturing sector and exposing consumers to potential price hikes ahead of the festive season.
Firms, as well as households, are experiencing prolonged unscheduled power cuts of up to 18 hours daily resulting in reduced production and the use of expensive diesel generators by some companies.
The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce CEO Christopher Mugaga told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/industry-on-the-brink-2/">Business Times</a> that the current electricity crisis has undermined local industry’s competitiveness. Mugaga said:
<blockquote>
The power crisis is making us lose a competitive edge to imports as our products will become more expensive than before.
If there will be shortages, certainly there will be increased smuggling of cheap imports into the country thereby weakening the industry.
Certainly, those goods with high demand will continue to be needed hence the business will continue to produce it even at high cost and sell it at a high cost.
</blockquote>
ZNCC chief economist Jeff Makiwa said most companies in the mining and manufacturing may close because of the power crisis. He said:
<blockquote>
The deepening energy crisis will further dress down economic growth and most companies, especially within the cold chain, mining, and manufacturing are more likely to close shop if the current energy situation is prolonged.
</blockquote>
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu said:
<blockquote>
The power crisis will affect the local industry in the sense that most businesses will go for cheaper options to meet the festive season demand hence expensive local goods uptake will be reduced.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, economist Eddie Cross recently suggested that there appears to be no plan from the government on the power crisis. Cross said:
<blockquote>
We have a power crisis. I went to see the President in January this year and told him in emphatic terms that if he didn’t address the power situation it was going to stop our economy in its tracks.
He (Mnangagwa) asked me to come back and I found four Ministers waiting for me. The President told them the private sector says we face a power crisis, what is the plan? There was no plan, no plan.
The President turned to (ZESA chairman) Dr Gata and said to him Sydney what are you going to do and he said Mr President, ZESA doesn’t have the financial capacity to fix this problem.
Our utilities are broken and the national utilities do not have the capacity to invest in infrastructure and new capacities. What are we going to do?
</blockquote>

Uncertainty Over Power Crisis Grips Zimbabwe's Industrial Sector

The government says it has secured funding to enable small thermal power stations, that is, Bulawayo, Harare, and Munyati, to generate more electricity to ease the current energy crisis.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Energy and Power Development Minister Soda Zhemu, said:
<blockquote>
Munyati power station has a capacity of 90 megawatts (MW), Bulawayo produces 100MW, and Harare around 200MW.
They have been producing less, and we are working on Bulawayo station to produce around 90 to 100MW, and funding has been secured for that.
</blockquote>
Soda also said the government was considering moving Bulawayo thermal station to Hwange, to avoid future coal supply challenges.
On Wednesday, 14 December 2022, the Zimbabwe Power Company was generating a total of 537MW.
Hwange was generating 366MW, Kariba 171MW, Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati were generating nothing. | <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-govt-revives-small-thermal-power-stations">The Sunday Mail</a>

ZESA Planning To Move Bulawayo Power Station To Hwange

ZANU PF has blamed the late former president Robert Mugabe who was ousted in a military coup in November 2017 for the prolonged power blackouts currently being experienced in Zimbabwe.
Speaking in a recent interview with South African broadcaster eNCA, ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said Mugabe’s mismanagement of the country over the past two decades was to blame for the current energy crisis. He said:
<blockquote>
The power crisis that the country is facing currently is a product of years of neglect within Zimbabwe in particular.
The mismanagement, the arm-fisted mismanagement of the last two decades of Mugabe and his G40s obviously has a negative pull.
It is retarding the speed of recovery, but you can’t doubt that recovery is going on.
</blockquote>
Zimbabweans are spending at least 18 hours a day without electricity and this has severely negatively affected business.
The state-owned power company, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), says low water levels at the Kariba Dam are triggering the country’s current blackouts.
The failure of ageing equipment at its Hwange Thermal Power Stations has also played a part. | <a href="https://www.enca.com/news/zimbabwe-electricity-crisis-zanu-pf-blames-mugabe-energy-crisis">eNCA</a>

ZANU PF Blames Mugabe For Electricity Crisis

The National Chairperson of South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), Samson Gwede Mantashe, has warned that the current crisis at power utility Eskom may cause social unrest in the country.
On Saturday, Eskom escalated its rolling blackouts from Stage Four to Five due to what it called unusually high demand.
The electricity shortages were exacerbated by the breakdown of a generating unit each at Hendrina, Kendal, and Kriel power stations.
Earlier last week, Eskom had pushed up the rolling blackouts to Stage Six.
Mantashe, who is also South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, was speaking at the Matla Coal Multi-purpose Hall outside Kriel in Mpumalanga. He said:
<blockquote>
When you have level six any time up and down the state is going to be overthrown by the people, that’s what it means actually.
l am talking about a revolt. Eskom must do what it should do, technically they have the capacity to do it.
</blockquote>
South Africa, just like its northern neighbour, Zimbabwe, is experiencing debilitating power cuts. | <a href="https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/current-eskom-crisis-may-cause-social-unrest-mantashe/">SABC News</a>

Mantashe Warns Severe Load Shedding May Cause Revolts

CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has said ZANU PF has no intention to solve the current electricity crisis in the country.
Zimbabweans are being forced to endure more than 18 hours a day without electricity after the country’s power utility, ZESA, cut power generation at Kariba Hydro Power Plant due to low dam levels.
A report by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/local-news/article/200004885/bigwigs-shielded-from-power-cutschefs-get-free-solar-systems">The Standard</a> claims that at least 100 top government officials, including service chiefs, are having home solar energy systems installed at their homes at the taxpayers’ expense.
This is being done to cushion the “chefs” and their families from the inconveniences of rolling electricity outages.
Commenting on the report, Mahere said the arrangement shows that the ZANU PF government has no capacity to do anything progressive other than looting national resources. She said:
<blockquote>
They looted funds meant to invest in alternative energy. They’re too incompetent to build power stations or maintain existing infrastructure.
They’ve plunged us into darkness now they expect us to pay for their solar systems. If you aren’t outraged, you’re not paying attention.
This response by ZANU PF tells us they have no intention to solve the ZESA crisis.
They’re buying themselves solar packs yet failing to solve the wider electricity problem.
We can’t have another 5 years of selfishness and incompetence.
ZANU PF continues to spit on the face of the people. The same bigwigs who were given a payout of US$500K a few weeks ago are now getting solar packs paid for by the taxpayer.
This is what happens when the Govt loots but cannot lead.
</blockquote>
According to the report, which cited an unnamed government source, a local company has been contracted to install a 5 kilovolt (Kva) solar system at the home of each beneficiary.
Each kit is reportedly being procured at a cost of US$14 000 yet a full package of the 5 Kva solar system, which consists of accessories and labour, costs between US$3 000 and US$5 000.
The beneficiaries include ministers, senior government officials, commissioners, and army generals.

ZANU PF Has No Intention To Solve Electricity Crisis - Mahere

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the government will take extraordinary measures in 2023 to address the current energy crisis.
Writing in his weekly opinion article published in The Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said there should be a significant increase in power supply early in the coming year. He wrote:
<blockquote>
Extraordinary measures are needed and will be taken in the coming year. With the US$310 million, we now have to refurbish and replace old Generators 1 to 6 at Hwange, coupled with the coming on stream of Generators 7 and 8, early next year, we should see an appreciable improvement in power supply early in the coming year.
We must now plan for our power generation and supply as if Kariba is discounted from our energy supply matrix, so we have at least 2 000 megawatts from non-hydro power sources.
That way, we weather-proof our energy sector and with it, our whole Economy. I have already instructed Government to remove all and any entry barriers to new investments in the energy sector.
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa said the current power shortages were caused by the success recorded in growing the economy and attracting new investments. He said:
<blockquote>
The rapid growth and expansion in both mining and industry, coupled with new investment projects across sectors, has increased demand for power, and created a clear mismatch between power generation and supply on the one hand, and power demand and distribution on the other.
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa was, however, quick to point out that power generation at the country’s major power plants, Kariba South Power Station and Hwange Thermal Power Station, has plummeted resulting in the current power crisis. He wrote:
<blockquote>
As I write, Kariba’s power generation capacity has drastically fallen from its installed capacity of 1 100 megawatts to a mere 100 megawatts.
Our capacity for thermal power has also fallen due to the aged six generators we developed soon after Independence.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is facing one of its worst power crises and on 9 December 2022, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating a total of 438MW from its five power stations.
Hwange was generating 218MW, Kariba 200, Bulawayo 20, Harare 0MW and Munyati 0MW. | <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/power-shortages-will-end-in-2023-enough-electricity-for-christmas-secured">The Sunday Mail</a>

Extraordinary Measures Needed To Address Electricity Crisis - Mnangagwa

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is owed ZWL$14 billion (about US$20 million at the official rate) by its customers.
This was said by Deputy Energy and Power Development Minister Magna Mudyiwa in the Senate on Thursday while responding to questions on the current power crisis.
Mudyiwa said ZESA introduced prepaid meters because people were not paying their bills. She said:
<blockquote>
People would (use) as much electricity as they wanted and would not pay up. For your information, ZESA is owed about $14 billion right now.
ZESA is not getting any funding from the government for its operations. It is a company that is supposed to run on its own just like any other company.
It is supposed to buy equipment (such as) vehicles that are used when attending to faults.
They are supposed to procure fuel and are not getting forex because many people are paying in Zimbabwe dollars.
ZESA is supposed to pay its workers. You might have heard that there is a lot of brain drain that took place at ZESA and a lot of professionals left this country and went as far as UK and Australia and ZESA is supposed to pay its workers adequately – all that is not happening because ZESA is owed a lot of money by consumers.
All these units that we are using at Hwange need revamping, they are very old and need rehabilitation but there is no money because ZESA is owed more than (14) billion dollars.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is facing one of its worst power crises due to depressed generation at its power plants resulting from low water levels in the case of Kariba, and recurrent breakdowns and coal shortages at its coal-fired power stations.
On 09 December 2022, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating a total of 438MW from its five power stations.
Hwange was generating 218MW, Kariba 200, Bulawayo 20, Harare 0MW and Munyati 0MW. | <a href="https://insiderzim.com/zesa-owed-14-billion/">The Insider</a>

"ZESA Owed $14 Billion By Consumers"

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s biographer, Eddie Cross, says he warned him about a power crisis.
Cross claims that in January this year, he told Mnangagwa in a private meeting if the power generation crisis was not addressed, Zimbabwe’s economic prospects would diminish.
Cross, a former member of the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), said later, the same day, Mnangagwa invited him back to his office.
He said this time, in the president’s office, were four ministers from energy, commerce, agriculture, and finance.
They were joined by the chairman of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), the head of the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) boss, according to Cross.
Mnangagwa told them what had been said by Cross and asked what was being done to deal with the power crisis. Said Cross at a business seminar in Harare on Thursday:
<blockquote>
There was no plan. The president turned to Dr [Sidney] Gata [the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority boss] and asked him, ‘Sidney, what are you going to do about it’?
</blockquote>
He added Gata told the president ZESA had no money to fix this problem.
Cross said the current power crisis affecting the SADC region was caused by poor planning by post-colonial governments. He said:
<blockquote>
The electrical power crisis that has enveloped southern Africa has its roots in our post-liberation history. Before that, the utilities created by the states of southern Africa exhibited considerable foresight and planning. 
This was led by the power utility of South Africa which had visionary leadership at the time and like China in the past 50 years, turned their huge coal reserves into a cheap source of electrical energy.
They installed enough power generation capacity to feed their own markets and to supply the deficit in their neighbours,
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is in the grip of a power crisis, with the country generating 500MW against a peak demand of 2 300MW per day.
As a result, Zimbabweans are getting an average of five hours a day of electricity, in most cases late at night or early in the morning. | <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/i-warned-zim-president-about-power-crisis-mnangagwas-biographer-claims-20221209">News24</a>

I Warned Mnangagwa About A Power Crisis But There Was No Plan, Says Cross

The total collapse of Kariba South Power Station’s Unit Number 4 following years of neglect, is partly to blame for the ongoing electricity crisis facing Zimbabwe, it has emerged.
While the official narrative is that Kariba South Power Station is currently generating significantly less power than it was producing a few months ago due to depleted water allocations, Unit 4 had been unofficially decommissioned.
NewZimbabwe.com reported a Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) source as saying that the now dysfunctional unit recently broke down beyond repair due to a number of factors. Said the source:
<blockquote>
Yes, the narrative that ZPC has utilised its 2022 water allocation and was ordered by ZRA to suspend power generation is correct.
It must not be taken to be the sole and isolated reason for plunging the nation into darkness.
The crisis we find ourselves in is a result of decades of poor planning and not heeding advice that saw key machinery going for years without major maintenance.
In instances where new spares were needed, engineers were forced to resort to having them poorly machined in South Africa.
Also, there was a massive exodus of qualified personnel to run these plants due to poor salaries, but ZPC did not heed advice to nip the flight of engineers and other key technical staff in the bud.
Resultantly, the power plant was now in the hands of incompetent and inexperienced employees, thereby compromising efficiency.
The end result was the inevitable total shutdown of Unit Number 4, which is now beyond repair.
We depleted our water allocation ahead of Zambia because our machines were not just obsolete and inefficient, but also neglected, full stop!
</blockquote>
The source further claimed that a forensic audit to establish what transpired in the lead-up to the unit’s total collapse is underway. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/kariba-water-levels-recede-but-power-stations-unit-4-total-collapse-has-worsened-already-dire-electricity-situation-official/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Kariba Power Station’s Unit 4 Broke Down Beyond Repair | Reports

ZESA Holdings says load shedding will ease considerably in the coming weeks with Zimbabwe soon to get up to 500MW of electricity from Zambia and Mozambique, while Hwange Power Station’s Unit 7 should be feeding 300MW into the national grid before month end.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/major-boost-to-electricity-situation-as-500mw-lined-up-from-zambia-mozambique/">The Herald</a>, ZESA Holdings executive chairman Sydney Gata said that the power utility expects to import 250MW from Zambia and another 250MW from Mozambique. Said Gata:
<blockquote>
As for the current load shedding, there is a relief that is coming. We ran around and apart from getting a bit more from Kariba, we will be getting a bit more from Zambia and Mozambique.
From Zambia, we are getting 100MW and they are looking for another 50MW for us there is also a member of the Intensive Energy Users Group who is also looking for another 100MW. So we may get as much as 250MW from Zambia.
Mozambique, I was there recently and we agreed that they will run around and increase from the 60MW they have been giving us, to 100MW immediately, and there is another 150MW which could be coming from Monday next week. So Mozambique should give us 250MW maximum.
</blockquote>
Gata said if all goes according to plan, Hwange’s Unit 7 is expected to start feeding electricity into the grid before month’s end. He said:
<blockquote>
The unit itself, in terms of operating, is actually ready to generate. However, there was a delay in the equipment required to connect it to the grid.
So far we expect that it could be around the 20th of this month. It could be later, it could be earlier, but thereabout and surely by Christmas, Unit 7 should be in service, barring unforeseen situations.
</blockquote>
Unit 7 has the capacity to generate 300MW, while Unit 8 will also add another 300MW to the main grid when completed in the first quarter of 2023.

ZESA Says Electricity Situation Will Improve Soon

Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti said that the current electricity crisis has exposed ZANU PF’s ineptitude in dealing with the challenges facing the country.
Zimbabweans are enduring at least 18 hours without electricity a day, with little hope that the problem will be fixed anytime soon.
Biti said the power shortages can be addressed through imports, the issuance of licences to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and fast-tracking the commissioning of new Units at Hwange Thermal Power Station, among other measures. Said Biti:
<blockquote>
The power situation has exposed the cluelessness and vacuousness of the regime.
That the regime can’t find an urgent solution to such an obvious crisis is beyond belief.
1) Increase urgent power imports, 2)Issue urgent IPP licenses, 3) Fast trek Hwange Units 7 and 8, 4) Invest in renewable energy particularly Solar and the Manicaland hydro, 5) Work on fresh power generation particularly Batoka, 6) Work on transmission, 7) Deal with Demand Side Management, 8) Converge and professionalize ZESA units, 9) Attend to rural electrification.
</blockquote>
Biti said the 2023 national budget growth projection of 3.8% is not attainable as it is based on an assumption of normal energy supply.
He also criticised President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s plan to disconnect households from the national electricity grid in response to the energy crisis.
Writing in his weekly opinion article published in The Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said:
<blockquote>
We have a blueprint that targets households to run on solar, so we remove them from the national grid.
In government, we are already incorporating solar systems in packages that public servants enjoy.
Such employer-assisted interventions, across the sectors, will see us speedily migrating more households to solar.
</blockquote>

Biti's Nine-point Plan To Deal With Energy Crisis

Tobacco farmers have pleaded with the government for help to alleviate the negative impacts of the current electricity crisis on farming.
US$300 million of irrigated tobacco crop is reportedly under threat as load shedding is affecting the curing of the golden leaf.
In a letter dated 5 December 2022, the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) pleaded with the Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Anxious Masuka to intervene. Part of the letter reads:
<blockquote>
There is an immediate requirement for tobacco farmers to access concessionary-priced diesel fuel for generator use either through their contractor or through a government facility.
Listings of affected farmers and requirements can be accessed through associations, unions, contractors and TIMB.
For effective curing and handling of this crop, 24 hours of continuous power is required on tobacco farms.
Currently, farms are getting on average seven hours of power per day, barring any faults, which is 30% of the requirements from the utility.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is experiencing power cuts of up to 18 hours a day due to reduced generation at Kariba caused by low water levels and recurrent breakdowns at Hwange.
As of 8 December, 2022, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating 506MW from its 5 power stations.
Hwange was generating 296MW, Kariba 200MW, Bulawayo 10MW, while Munyati and Harare were generating nothing. | <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/power-cuts-shocker/">Business Times</a>

Load Shedding Disrupts Tobacco Curing

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has outlined his party’s plans to address the country’s electricity crisis.
Zimbabweans are currently experiencing power cuts lasting up to at least 18 hours a day as the power utility, ZESA Holdings, is generating about a quarter of the country’s electricity needs.
In a Twitter thread, Chamisa said a CCC government will expand generation by modernising the country’s existing power plants through life extension technologies that are smart and green by 2027. Wrote Chamisa:
<blockquote>
1/OUR NEW GREAT ZIMBABWE ENERGY PLAN Zimbabwe currently has a national electrification rate of 42%. While electricity has reached 83% of urban households, rural electrification is still around 13% as per the National Energy Policy of 2012 (as per the last updated stats)
2/Our estimated electricity demand is 2300 MW against an actual generation of below 1100 MW. The current output of 1100 MW is not sufficient to guarantee support for a rapid economic growth programme.
3/The supplies are fraught with persistent outages. In addition, there are significant electricity losses as a consequence of aged and inefficient transmission and distribution networks.
4/The country has an installed capacity of about 2,300 MW, with Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a generation subsidiary of ZESA, owning around 95% of this. More than 50% of electricity is generated from hydropower power while the remainder is from thermal power plants.
5/Bagasse, mini-hydropower and small-sized grid-connected solar systems have an installed capacity of a paltry figure of less than 150MW. Against this background, the actual power generation capacity in 2022 averaged below 1100MW against a peak demand of about 1800MW.
6/The limited generation capacity is attributed to human capital capacity &amp; quality of mgmt due to corruption &amp; cronyism at our utilities, poor financing, water wastage &amp; availability at Kariba, old equipment which needs rehabilitation &amp; limited coal availability &amp; clean energy issues.
7/A New Great Zimbabwe economy needs to be driven by clean, and sustainable energy sources that will achieve net zero by 2050 &amp;also ensure a decarbonised economy. The Citizens gvt will expand installed generation to at least 4,2 MW by 2029 which we estimate will cost $4.33 billion.
8/Current energy policies overlook the need for improving the share of renewable energy in the overall energy mix. It’s just not prudent to use a hydropower station like Kariba which was designed mainly for peaking power, as a base load power station.
9/Zimbabwe should focus on driving the cost-effective implementation of sustainable energy sources, social upliftment through community involvement, gender equality and employment generation.
10/The renewable energy sector in Zimbabwe should consist of solar, hydro, wind, geothermal and biomass (which includes bagasse (sugarcane based), biogas, forestry and sawmill waste) all of which have barely been fully exploited.
11/Zimbabwe has vast renewable energy resources that are presently underutilised. Our Citizens’ Government will prioritise a clean energy investment that will make power shortages, load shedding and the current dark age a thing of the past.
12/We will lead in the setting of targets for renewable energy based on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) interventions submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
13/demand-supply scenario, grid absorption capacity, and the economic viability of our utilities to pay for renewable energy electricity from independent power producers (IPPs).
14/We will promote sustainable Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) for small hydropower, biomass, and geothermal projects as well as corruption-free competitive bidding for solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP), wind and other renewable energy sources.
15/Off-grid energy will be promoted and incentivised to make them a viable option for our Citizens’ government 100% electrification of Zimbabwe by 2035.
16/We will address the socio-economic areas in our energy policies to include affordability &amp;accessibility of energy from renewable sources, employment opportunities, diversity &amp; inclusion especially gender equity, and food security, and improved access to basic facilities.
16/Our FIVE POINT PLAN for Energy is informed by the suffering of our citizens due to the lack of sufficient energy to carry on with our economic activities. We plan . a)to pursue sustainable energy for all and to mobilize action from all sectors of society in support of
17/three interlinked objectives to be achieved by 2027: providing universal access to modern energy services; doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix in Zimbabwe.
18/b) to expand generation by modernising our existing power plants through life extension technologies that are smart and green by 2027.
19/c) to build an energy efficiency revolution that creates an energy surplus by encouraging demand side management, energy efficiency and optimal use of our water resources in our hydropower generation systems dispatch and operations.
20/d) to provide enough project financing and investment for power generation, transmission , distribution and supply systems with an emphasis on rural development and urbanization as well as install ethical, competent and professional human capital to run our utilities.
21/e)to source through the private sector the sum of USD 300 million dollars that is required to modernise our grid. Zimbabwe’s transmission infrastructure is archaic. We will allow private players in the form of independent power producers (IPPs).
22/We will implement sustainable energy development based on scientific &amp;engineering studies that will continuously launch projects for solar power, energy Internet, carbon Capture, utilisation &amp; storage (CCUS), nuclear, energy storage, hydrogen &amp;total electrification of our country.
23/Decades of lack of investment in energy infrastructure, visionary leadership, planning and corruption now haunting us. Averting a problem is always cheaper than treating it. We have the answers! We will make Our ZIMBABWE New and Great! We’re ready. #RegisterToVoteZW
</blockquote>

Chamisa Outlines "New Great Zimbabwe Energy Plan" To End Electricity Crisis

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Gloria Magombo on Tuesday said the commissioning of two new units at Hwange Thermal Power Station will take time.
These two new units will add 600MW to the national grid, but it may not happen soon.
Addressing the media after a Cabinet meeting in Harare yesterday, Magombo said:
<blockquote>
Commissioning of a plant is not an event, it’s a process. When we talk about commissioning Hwange 7, each part has to be commissioned independently and certified as working 100%, before they move on to the next one.
If there’s something not working properly, they have to stop, look at it, and correct it. As they do that, they look at the critical path in terms of when they can put that unit on the grid.
</blockquote>
She said the other part of commissioning is the construction of transmission power lines including a 400km line from Hwange to Bulawayo’s Insukamini sub-station.
Watch the video below for more:
<div>
<video controls="controls" height="356" preload="metadata" width="640"><a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Gloria-Magombo.mp4">https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Gloria-Magombo.mp4</a></video></div>
Meanwhile, On Tuesday, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating only 494MW from its five power stations located in Bulawayo, Munyati, Harare, Hwange and Kariba.
On the same day, Zimbabwe was importing 50MW from Mozambique’s HCB, up to 169MW from ESKOM, 100MW from Zambia’s ZESCO, and 10MW from EDM in Mozambique.
Magombo said the country has agreed with EDM to increase supplies to 50MW, while there is an agreement for a further 150MW from Mozambique. | <a href="https://newzwire.live/govts-latest-energy-update-there-is-bad-news-and-slightly-less-bad-news/">newZWire</a>

"Commissioning Of Hwange Units 7 & 8 Will Take Time"

The government has put measures in place to ensure that there is continued power generation at various power stations across the country.
This was said by the secretary for Energy and Power Development Gloria Magombo while speaking to the media after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. She said:
<blockquote>
Various measures were reported to Cabinet which have been put in place to ensure that there is a continued power generation and supply demand-gap which has increased due to the loss of the 300MW.
One of the first strategies is to ensure that the current units which are generating in Hwange, continue to be maintained and optimised to ensure that they produce an average of 400MW to ensure energy supply security.
Over and above in the long term, over US$400 million was secured to improve capacity in Bulawayo and Hwange.
At Hwange power station, the life-extension project has started with Unit 5 which has been out due to challenges with its turbines earlier this year.
We have also been ramping up production for the small thermals in Bulawayo, Harare and Munyati to push them to 45MW.
Coal supplies are currently being expedited and there is a train with over 30 wagons to power stations to ensure that there is more production.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing an electricity crisis caused by frequent breakdowns at Hwange Thermal Power Station and water shortages in Lake Kariba which supplies water for the Kariba Hydropower station.
Meanwhile, Magombo said the new 300MW Hwange Unit 7 is expected to be synchronised to the system by end of this month. She said:
<blockquote>
Unit 8 is also being developed in parallel and we expect that it will be commissioned during the first quarter of 2023.
</blockquote>
She said an additional coal plant at Hwange going through maintenance should be running soon, thus adding an additional 15 MW to the national grid.
According to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) website, Zimbabwe was generating 494MW on Tuesday, 6 December 2022, against a peak demand of 2 200MW. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/measures-taken-to-ease-power-shortage/">The Herald</a>

We Have Taken Measures To Ease Power Shortage - Govt

Zimbabwe has no immediate funding to ease the current electricity crisis, Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda revealed on Friday.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Soda admitted that the country is facing a power crisis. He said:
<blockquote>
The government is making an intervention. This is a crisis situation and we hope through that intervention, funding will be available to apply for the additional capacity that we are looking forward to getting from our neighbours.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s hopes of importing additional electricity from Zambia were dampened with the neighbouring country set to commence a six-hour daily load-shedding regime from 15 December.
On Friday, Zambia’s Energy minister Peter Kapala issued a ministerial statement in Parliament saying the country’s power utility, ZESCO, will implement a load management regime aimed at rationing power generation at the Kariba Complex to avoid a complete shutdown.
Meanwhile, Soda said Zimbabwe is importing a combined 250 megawatts (MW) from South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique.
He said additional negotiations are ongoing, with 150MW expected from Mozambique.
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages the Zambezi River on behalf of Zimbabwe and Zambia cut ZESA’s power generation capacity to 300MW down from 600MW, while ZESCO will reduce generation to a maximum of 800 megawatts until further review.
Zhemu urged consumers to reduce their load by employing energy conservation and efficiency measures. He said:
<blockquote>
The ministry urges all consumers to reduce load by employing energy conservation and efficiency measures. Lights must be switched off in all offices at night and other measures like rightsizing of equipment, use of energy savers.
</blockquote>
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Kurai Matsheza said a failure to address the power crisis will be a huge blow to manufacturers during the busiest season of the year. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004481/no-funding-for-power-imports-minister">NewsDay</a>

No Immediate Funding For Power Imports - Soda

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda has said the Kariba Hydro Power Station will not shut down completely but will continue to generate about 300 megawatts (MW) daily pending a review of the water situation in Lake Kariba next year.
Addressing the media at his offices in Harare late Friday afternoon, Soda said that the government has come up with immediate measures to deal with the current power challenges. He said:
<blockquote>
ZPC had indeed exhausted its water allocation for the year 2022. However, Kariba Power Station will not shut down completely, rather it will continue to generate but at a reduced capacity of up to 300 megawatts daily average pending a review of the water situation at the dam in January 2023.
This means that the power station has the latitude to vary its capacity as long as it maintains the required average capacity.
… In the immediate term, Government has come up with measures through its utility ZESA and IPPs to increase imports from the region.
Bilaterally, ZESA is currently negotiating for additional imports from the current suppliers.
More power will also be secured through the SAPP (Southern African Power Pool) market.
ZPC will ramp up production at Hwange Power Station to average 400MW and small thermals are expected to produce a combined total of 45MW.
We will give support to all IPPs to enable them to produce at maximum capacity.
</blockquote>
Soda said Unit 7 is undergoing commissioning and will start feeding power into the grid later this month.
The commissioning of Unit 8 will follow within the first three months of next year, he said.
He said several companies will soon be feeding various amounts of power into the national grid. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
Through Statutory Instrument 38 of 2022, net-metering regulations were amended to exempt from licensing a capacity of up to 5MW.
This incentive is expected to result in increased internal generation as companies set up their solar generation systems.
Caledonia Mine (12 MW), Richo Solar (1,3MW) and Guruve (1,2MW) will soon be feeding into the national grid.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-kariba-power-station-is-not-shutting-down">The Sunday Mail</a>

Kariba Power Station Is Not Shutting Down Completely - Minister

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) says it is engaging the Government to find solutions to the current electricity crisis which threatens industrial productivity.
Domestic and industrial consumers are now going for long hours without electricity outside the normal load-shedding periods.
Last week, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages the Kariba Dam on behalf of Zimbabwe and Zambia, ordered the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, from generating electricity at Kariba Dam until at least January next year due to low water levels.
CZI president Kurai Matsheza said local industry was caught “flat-footed,” by the move by ZRA to order the cessation of power generation at Kariba South Power Station. He said:
<blockquote>
It’s a situation we are engaging the authorities on, just to find a common way of coming out of this situation, but unfortunately, there are no quick answers, so we just have to keep negotiating.
We also encourage the Government to speed up whatever accommodation we can have with the Zambian authorities, for example, to be allowed to use their portion of the water in the Zambezi to continue running on our side, or alternatively, they can sell to us the electricity they would have generated.
</blockquote>
The Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zhemu Soda, is expected to give a detailed statement on the issue of Zimbabwe’s energy and power supply soon, a Cabinet spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a new unit at the Hwange Power Station was successfully turned on for the first time last week, raising hopes that the power challenges will soon be alleviated.
The unit is expected to start supplying 300 megawatts to the national grid before the end of this year. | <a href="https://newziana.co.zw/2022/11/30/local-industry-engaging-govt-on-power-challenges/">New Ziana</a>

Captains Of Industry Engaging Govt On Power Challenges

A local energy expert, Victor Utedzi, says Zimbabwe needs to make huge investments in solar energy to deal with its current energy crisis.
On Thursday, Zimbabwe had a shortfall of nearly 900MW, according to ZESA’s internal daily updates.
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages Kariba Dam, last week advised ZESA to stop production at the Kariba South hydroelectric plant because of low usable water levels.
Speaking during an interview with <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/explainer-inside-zimbabwes-power-generation-crisis-20221201">News24,</a> Utedzi said another option that Zimbabwe has is to ask to purchase water from the Zambian side of the Kariba Dam. He said:
<blockquote>
The solution [to Zimbabwe’s power crisis] is to increase the variety of power generation avenues in the country from other sources.
The 600MW Hwange extension will help by reducing the amount of generation.
The country has to deploy more solar photovoltaic (PV), which works during the day and allows water to be conserved.
Solar is clearly the best prospect. It’s the lowest cost, quick to build, and the sun is in abundant supply in the country. There are also good wind resources spread throughout the country.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority has a number of dams already built, which could provide up to 500MW of power.
There’s the Muzabani oil and gas prospect drilling by Invictus. It’s still subject to a successful drilling programme.
Even then, there is a need for significant capital spending to extract the gas, clean it into a usable form for power generation, and build transportation facilities for consumers.
It’s an excellent prospect that will require significant capital to be fully exploited.
</blockquote>
He said Zimbabwe should improve the ease of doing business and assure investors that the environment is safe and profitable as it is competing with its neigbours for the same pool of capital.

"Zimbabwe Should Make Huge Investments In Solar Energy"

Former ZESA Holdings chief executive, Josh Chifamba, said that the sub-economic tariff which the power utility has been charging “for a long time” is the main reason for the current electricity crisis.
Last week, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages Kariba Dam, ordered ZESA to stop production at the Kariba South hydroelectric plant because of low usable water levels.
ZRA advised ZESA that a further review of the substantive Hydrological Outlook at Kariba will be undertaken in January.
Kariba is the country’s largest power plant, with the capacity of producing 1 050MW, and has been the most reliable.
The ageing Hwange Thermal Power Station, which is the country’s second-largest plant, has become unreliable because most of its equipment is obsolete.
Speaking during an interview with <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/zim-pays-price-for-sub-economic-power-tariffs/">Business Weekly</a>, Chifamba said:
<blockquote>
Issues in the sector have been left unresolved for far too long. The main Achilles’ heel has been sub-economic tariffs and an unfavourable macroeconomic environment. That has to be fixed.
</blockquote>
He said the country should have invested in new power stations to avoid over-relying on Kariba Power Station.
Chifamba said the rationale for Kariba expansion was that with additional generators, load shedding, especially at peak, would be alleviated. He said:
<blockquote>
Kariba would change from running as a base load (24-hour) station and operate as a mid–merit cum peak (18-hour) station.
You cannot run Kariba as a base load station because that consumes a lot of water.
The impact on the economy can be so huge. We had a similar situation in 2015 when water levels declined and production went down to around 200 MW.
That is why we resorted to bringing on Dema (diesel power plant) (The situation was so bad).
So the addition of generators at Kariba is not, in and of itself, the cause of the water problem at Kariba.
</blockquote>
Chifamba noted that Zambia’s ZESCO, with the same capacity as ZESA at Kariba; after having built new power stations; has kept within its water allocation.
He urged ZESA to immediately move towards a cost-reflective tariff to enable the country to import. Said Chufamba:
<blockquote>
They should try to mop up power in the region’ so they need to revise the tariffs so that they will have (enough) equivalent Zimbabwe dollars to pay for the imports.
</blockquote>
Currently, customers are paying US9.2c kWh, excluding exporters, which can be paid in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate.
Exporters, with effect from October 1, 2022, are paying US10.12c per kWh.
Meanwhile, the World Bank carried out a study on the country’s power tariff regime and recommended a cost-reflective price of US15c kWh.

Zimbabwe Paying Price For Sub-economic Electricity Tariffs, Says Former ZESA Official

Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) vice president Tendai Biti has blamed the ZANU PF-led government for the country’s prolonged electricity challenges saying little has been done to increase electricity generation since the 1980s.
Posting on Twitter, Biti also said that the expansion of the Hwange thermal power station was an unnecessary and costly project and the country should have used the funds to harness clean sources of energy. He wrote:
<blockquote>
1)The energy situation in Zimbabwe is completely out of hand. Blackouts are killing industry, and farming &amp; negatively affecting working families. The power crises is a leadership issue. #ZANU knew Hwange Units had to be decommissioned in the 80s but did nothing on generation.
2)Of Zim s installed capacity of 2000MW from Hwange &amp; Kariba less than 700 MW are being generated at any given time. It is therefore important to attend to fresh power projects that will generate at least 4000 MW. Batoka remains the most important long-term project.
3)Hwange 7&amp;8 currently under construction with Chinese funds is simply too small &amp; overpriced. Those resources should have been invested in alternative green fuel including solar plants&amp; hydro stations in Manicaland. Zambia has done well without the pursuit of damaging fossil energy.
4)Power transmission remains the second challenge Zim’s grid is archaic &amp; needs modernization. Besides, it has limited reach. That only 30% of citizens have access to electricity 43 years after independence is a shame. Energy is a human right &amp; a development enabler.
5) A program of rural electrification is therefore as imperative as it is long overdue. But any offer or loan from anyone to assist in this direction while welcome must surely be approved by Parliament in terms of s327 of the Constitution. Lastly, Zim must deal with Demand Side issues.
6) There is a culture of energy waste, of not paying bills, or use of energy consuming gadgets.#ZANU elites do not pay energy bills on their farms &amp; #ZESA is owed billions. Prepaid meters are a must. Solar panels &amp; solar geysers should be a must for households.
7) Demand side management should also look at how #ZESA is run A few years ago it was unbundled but there is no evidence that unbundling was effective. A study must therefore be carried out to determine whether there is a case for rebundling. What is the best practice, and what works better?
8) Demand-side management must also look at the pricing model of energy. It is not sustainable that power imported at 13cents a KW is sold at 3cents a KW. But any pricing model must involve the consumer in a transparent process that avoids arbitrage or undercutting the institution.
9) Lastly Zim must deal with corruption The Dema Power project being an example The 2018 #ZESA forensic audit exposed billions that were lost through corruption. Scammers &amp; reptiles have made millions through various schemes. The energy sector including fuel is the most corrupt in Zim.
10) When everything else is said &amp; done it is clear that the energy sector like Zim itself needs a new consensus. The fact is problems are never solved by those that created them. In short, we need new leaders.
</blockquote>

Tendai Biti Says Electricity Blackouts Reflect Leadership Crisis | Full Thread

Zimbabwe requires electricity imports of between 200 megawatts (MW) and 450MW daily from regional utilities to meet its power deficit.
This was said by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Gloria Magombo. She said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe imports electricity from regional utilities (Eskom of South Africa, HCB of Mozambique and ZESCO of Zambia) to augment its internal generation capacity.
With a maximum demand of between 1700MW to 1850MW against an internal generation capacity of 1400MW, the country imports between 200MW and 450MW to meet this deficit.
The imports are, however, on a firm and non-firm basis and also depend on the level of internal systems demand and status/availability of generation units, especially at Hwange Power Station.
</blockquote>
The electricity challenges currently bedeviling the country were a result of many factors, among them delayed commissioning of new generation capacity, especially at Hwange, failure to maintain and rehabilitate existing infrastructure, and failure to attract significant investments through the private sector, according to Magombo.
She said during off-peak periods when demand is low, some units at Kariba Power Station (peaking power plant) are shut down and at that time no imports will be required.
Magombo urged local businesses to capitalise on the power deficit to invest in power projects. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/business/article/200003147/zim-needs-450-megawatts-of-imports-to-fill-energy-gap-magombo">NewsDay</a>

Zimbabwe Has 450 Megawatts Electricity Deficit - Magombo

A survey has revealed that businesses are losing ZWL$2.5 million in annual sales due to continuous power outages, the Independent reports.
The survey conducted by<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZNCC"> ZNCC</a> revealed that businesses are losing anything between $20000 and $30000 a month in sales due to the power outages.
Here are some statistical highlights that came out in the survey according to the publication.
<ol>
<li>Majority of businesses representing 90% of the sample indicated that electricity outages negatively affects their revenues resulting in revenue loss. The losses among others come due to the fact that they will have reduced sales and some orders will be lost as they will be considered unreliable suppliers</li>
<li>Around 85% of businesses lose customers after power outages given that businesses will not be able to effectively communicate with the said customers, they will not be able to meet deadlines agreed with customers and delivery due to dates will be missed. As such the customers will start looking for other suppliers going forward.</li>
<li>Around 87% of surveyed firms indicated electricity power outages result in reduced/decreased labour productivity. According to respondents, these losses emanate from the fact that during electricity outages salaried labour will be lying idle but the same will be paid in full salaries at the end of the month.</li>
</ol>
More: <a href="https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2019/12/06/businesses-lose-25m-to-power-outages/">The Independent</a>

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