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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

Power Cuts are looming in Zimbabwe after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) reduced water allocation for power generation at Kariba hydropower station by 25% to 30 billion cubic metres (BCM).
This comes after Lake Kariba received less than expected inflows from the upper Zambezi River catchment.
The 30BCM will be shared equally by ZESA and Zambia’s power utility ZESCO.
Munyaradzi Munodawafa, the CEO of ZRA, said flows upstream of the Zambezi River have started falling, affecting inflows into the Kariba Dam. He said:
<blockquote>
With the 2022/23 rainfall season having effectively ended in April, the Kariba catchment is no longer experiencing any rainfall activities.
As per normal trend following the end of a rainfall season, flows of the Zambezi River and its tributaries are now receding and this downward trend is expected to continue until the commencement of the next rainfall season (2023/24 rainfall season).
</blockquote>
In April this year, Munodawafa told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/power-cuts-loom/">Business Times</a> that ZRA would get tougher with ZESA and ZESCO in July to ensure that they do not utilise more than their water allocations. He said:
<blockquote>
… We will not be that strict until the end of the winter agriculture season in July.
After July, we will be tough with ZESA and ZESCO. Next year, it’s likely to be worse.
</blockquote>
Hwange’s units 7 and 8 are expected to generate a combined 600MW, with Government officials saying the coal-fired power plant will be able to handle the base load while Kariba kicks in during peak times.
Units 1-6 at Hwange Power Station are no longer reliable as they almost always break down due to old age and poor maintenance.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Load Shedding Set To Intensify In August

Zimbabweans have taken to social media to express frustration over claims by the Government that unscheduled power cuts, known as load shedding, are now a thing of the past.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, said:
<blockquote>
Cabinet noted with satisfaction that the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority has announced the end to load-shedding as a result of the interventions implemented by the Second Republic thereby fulfilling the mantra “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Energy Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) acting managing director, Howard Choga, recently told State media that the current demand is sitting at about 1 850MW.
The Zimbabwe Power Company, another subsidiary of power utility ZESA Holdings, is failing to generate enough power to meet demand, while power imports remain negligible.
On Friday, the 7th of July, the <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">Zimbabwe Power</a> Company (ZPC) reported a total power output of 1,577 MW from its five power plants. The <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">Kariba power plant</a> was generating 925 MW, Hwange 605 MW, Bulawayo 25 MW, Harare 12 MW, and Munyati 10 MW. However, this left a significant shortfall of <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">273 MW</a>, which unfortunately cannot be covered by imports due to ZESA’s inability to settle outstanding payments with its regional suppliers. As a result, the citizens of <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">Zimbabwe</a> are presently experiencing daily power cuts lasting several hours. Posting on Twitter on 05 July, a Gweru-based ZESA <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertSamhember/status/1676684080073637889?s=20">customer wrote</a>:
<blockquote>
In Gweru, Zimbabwe, we are experiencing load shedding. Even today, we experienced it both in industrial areas and in high-density suburbs. Munomhanya kutaura zvekuda kufadza vanhu musina ruzivo rwakakwana nezvirikuitika munyika yese. (You rush to say things to please people when you do not have adequate information about the electricity supply situation across the whole country).
</blockquote>
Choga said Zimbabwe is getting 100 megawatts from South Africa, and 60 MW from Mozambique.
Last week, ZESA consultant (international business) Cletus Nyachowe said that Kariba generates more than 800 MW for a short period of time. He said:
<blockquote>
When you see us generating between 800MW and 892MW at Kariba, that power output is probably on for an hour or less.
</blockquote>
While government officials are claiming that load shedding has ended, Zimbabweans are spending several hours daily without electricity. According to a <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">Twitter poll</a> conducted by Pindula this week, 41.4% of respondents reported experiencing load-shedding on a daily basis. 17.2% stated that they experience load-shedding weekly, while 37.9% reported that load-shedding has either been reduced or has stopped altogether. Only 3.4% of respondents claimed to experience load-shedding on a monthly basis.
<img alt="Load-shedding Pindula News" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-260121" decoding="async" height="355" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Loadshedding-survey.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Loadshedding-survey.jpg 768w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Loadshedding-survey-300x139.jpg 300w" width="768"/>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Criticised For Misleading Public On Load Shedding

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZESA/">Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)</a> has announced the end of load-shedding, saying the country is now able to produce enough electricity from its power plants with minimal imports to meet demand by domestic and industrial consumers.
ZESA says the improved power generation capacity has drastically reduced load-shedding across the country and excited the productive sector, which is now able to plan operational schedules and guarantee smooth industry outcomes.
The power utility says the successful implementation and completion of Hwange Thermal Power Station Units 7 and 8 expansion projects, coupled with the establishment of solar parks by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and improved output from Kariba Hydro-Power Station, has recently pushed total domestic generation capacity above 1,500MW, which is a significant improvement as compared to less than 600MW in March this year.
In a recent interview in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Energy Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) acting managing director, Engineer Howard Choga, said given the milestone improvement in power generation and supply, there is no need for a load-shedding schedule. <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/no-more-need-for-load-shedding-says-zesa/#:~:text=In%20a%20recent%20interview%20in,for%20a%20load%2Dshedding%20schedule.">The Chronicle</a> cites him as saying:
<blockquote>
You will notice that in the past two to three weeks, we have not been shedding at all, therefore, under those circumstances, there will be no need to have a load-shedding schedule.
 Our projection is that we are not going to be shedding going forward, at least in the medium term. If we are not shedding it means we are getting enough for the consumers.
At the moment we are getting 100 megawatts from South Africa, and from Mozambique, we have two sources that is Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) of Mozambique, which is giving us 50MW and EDM 10MW. That’s enough for the demand in the country.
</blockquote>
ZESA’s recent announcement has come as a relief to the business community, which had opted for expensive diesel generators or incurred long hours of no production due to load-shedding. The improved power situation is expected to guarantee enhanced production and supply of goods, and is a significant departure from the acute power shortages experienced in the past years, which have crippled the economy. 
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

ZESA Has Announced The End Of Load-shedding In Zimbabwe

The Government says the country is steadily moving towards energy sufficiency which will make load shedding a thing of the past.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zimbabwe-close-to-energy-sufficiency-local-generation-and-imports-now-meet-daily-demand-of-almost-2-000mw/">State media</a> on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) conference in Victoria Falls on Wednesday, 28 June, Energy and Power Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Gloria Magombo said local generation and imports now meet the daily demand of almost 2 000MW.
She said Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Units 7 and 8 which are undergoing technical commissioning ahead of commercialisation, have improved the power situation in the country. Said Magombo:
<blockquote>
We need to meet the growing demand which is based on the growing economy. As for Hwange Units 7 and 8, from March this year, we successfully synchronised Unit 7 which has been going through technical commissioning.
We are now doing the last of the tests and it will soon be going into commercial operation and as they are doing the tests the power is being supplied.
And we have also successfully in May brought in Unit 8 which is now going through reliability tests and, it will go on until September when it will also go into commercial operation.
While there may be a day or two where we will be doing other tests, it will be available and that is already being felt by people.
</blockquote>
Units 7 and 8 will provide a combined 600MW once they are operating at full capacity.
Before the expansion project, Hwange Power Station had an installed capacity of 920MW and the addition of 600MW from Units 7 and 8 will take the installed capacity to 1 520MW.
However, the old units experience frequent breakdowns and can no longer be relied on.
Magombo said the current demand is 1 850MW and, in addition to imports, the gap between demand and local power generation has been reduced drastically. She said:
<blockquote>
If you look at the additional 600MW which we have added onto the grid with all the two units running, our current demand is sitting at about 1 850MW.
We are now almost exactly supplying that amount, including some of the power which is coming from imports.
Obviously, you know that Kariba reduced output so we can do more in a year where there is much more water.
So we are cautiously using Kariba now, but what we have is able to meet our demand and we are able to do without any load shedding.
</blockquote>
On 01 July 2023, Kariba Hydro Power Station was generating 875 MW, Hwange 600 MW and Harare 15 MW to give a total of 1 490 MW.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Local Power Generation And Imports Now Meet Demand - Govt Official

<a href="https://pindula.co.zw/ZESA">ZESA Holdings</a> chief executive Howard Choga has said the power utility aims to more than double national grid capacity by 2025 to meet increasing demand mainly driven by the mining industry.
Addressing a mining conference on Thursday in Victoria Falls, Choga said that ZESA expects to add 2 300 MW to the grid by 2025. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zimbabwe-aims-double-power-output-by-2025-meet-mining-demand-2023-06-01/?rpc=401&amp;">Reuters</a> quoted Choga as saying:
<blockquote>
We expect that by 2025, we would have added 2 300 MW to the grid. I must say over 80% of the 2 300 MW is demand from miners.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe currently has a generating capacity of 2 000 megawatts (MW) but is producing less than 1 500 MW due to regular breakdowns at its thermal power stations and low water levels at Kariba Dam for the Kariba Hydropower plant.
As of Thursday, 01 June 2023, the Zimbabwe Power Company, a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, was generating a total of 1 423 MW.
Choga also revealed that Zambia and Mozambique cut off electricity supplies to Zimbabwe over failure to pay for imports. He said:
<blockquote>
We have had a discontinuation of supply from Zambia and Mozambique because we failed to pay. After accumulated bills imports were then discontinued on March 13.
</blockquote>
In December 2021, the Government unveiled incentives meant to help bring 1 100 MW of new solar projects on stream by 2025 but little progress has been made due to a lack of investment in new energy projects.
At the conference, miners complained of losing up to 12 hours of production time daily due to power cuts.
Zimbabweans are spending more than 12 hours each day without electricity both at home and at the office. 
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) recently offered some tips on managing electricity usage in the office saying this helps alleviate pressure on the grid. Here are the tips:
<ul>
<li>Replace all incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs).</li>
<li>During the day, where possible, use natural lighting from windows rather than using lights.</li>
<li>Switch off all lights when leaving the office.</li>
<li>Switch off computers and printers from the plug, when leaving the office. Appliances on standby mode still consume energy.</li>
<li>Insulate water heaters, hot water piping, and tanks to reduce heat loss.</li>
<li>Invest in energy-efficient air conditioning systems and energy-efficient electronic devices. Opt for fan heaters instead of element heaters.</li>
<li>Go green, and use renewable energy. Consider installing solar panels for other energy needs, and sell the excess to the grid.</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Aims To Add 2 300 MW To The Grid By 2025

Zimbabwe’s electricity crisis will not end any time soon after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) this week cut the amount of water allocated to ZESA and ZESCO for power generation at Kariba Dam.
ZESA and Zambia’s power utility ZESCO, equally share water at Kariba Dam for power generation.
ZRA executive officer Munyaradzi Munodawafa told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/setback-as-zra-cuts-water-allocation-at-kariba/">Business Times</a> that ZESA and ZESCO are now utilising 15 billion cubic metres each from 22.5 billion cubic metres, which was allocated for the year 2022.
Speaking to the publication on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair International Business Conference on Wednesday, Munodawafa said:
<blockquote>
We have cut the water allocation to 15 billion cubic metres each from 22.5 billion metres with immediate effect. 
Last week, we concluded our water allocation reviews and have since written to the power utilities to adhere to the new limits. We are also going to limit their generation load.
</blockquote>
According to Business Times, this is the second worst allocation in the history of ZRA.
The worst allocation was effected in 1995, when ZRA allocated 11 billion cubic metres to the power utilities.
Munodawafa said the reason for the cut is that the region as a whole did not receive normal to above normal as had been forecasted. He said:
<blockquote>
But this did not happen. On the Zimbabwe side, Gwayi River did not register any flow into the lake Kariba. There were, however, some flashes from Sanyati River.
The Angolan catchment which usually supplies more water into Lake Kariba was also below what it used to do.
But what is funny is that the Kafue catchment in Zambia is actually spilling.
However, we will not be that strict until the end of the winter agriculture season in July.
After July, we will be tough with ZESA and ZESCO. Next year, it’s likely to be worse.
</blockquote>
The water cuts come as ZESA this week said it has been engaging ZRA for “more water allocation”.
ZESA general manager, stakeholder relations, communications and welfare, George Manyaya said told Business Times they haven’t received the letter yet from ZRA on the latest water allocation cut.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZRA Cuts Kariba Dam Water Allocation For Electricity Generation

South Africa’s Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has warned South Africans that the winter season will be “exceptionally difficult” and should brace for heightened load shedding.
He was speaking in the east of Pretoria at the site of the collapsed electricity pylons.
South Africa is currently experiencing higher stages of load shedding, with the country’s power utility, ESKOM announcing on Wednesday that it will implement stage 6 power cuts from 4 PM.
Ramokgopa said power generation remains constrained adding ESKOM needed about 66 000 megawatts to bridge the gap between demand and supply. He said:
<blockquote>
I’ll be brutally honest. It’s going to be an exceptionally difficult winter. We know that in summer conditions, the deficit is 6 000 megawatts.
When we go into winter, the peak can go up to 37 000 megawatts. But at the current rate of trips and failures, it’s going to be an exceptionally difficult winter.
… We are doing everything possible so that we don’t go beyond stage six. If there are any changes to that, we will communicate them.
</blockquote>
Ramokgopa urged South African households and businesses to drastically reduce their electricity usage. He said:
<blockquote>
The biggest problem that is confronting us is the unreliability of the generation units.
You can see that within the space of fewer than 48 hours, we move from no load shedding to stage five.
There’s a lot we can do to bring down demand without compromising our ability to meet our daily requirements as we go about life.
</blockquote>
Early this month, Zimbabwe’s Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda, South Africa had reduced electricity supply to its northern neighbour as it grappled with its own challenges.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Load Shedding: South Africans Warned To Brace For An "Exceptionally Difficult" Winter

Load shedding has worsened in Zimbabwe despite an increase in generation at local power stations because South Africa has reduced electricity exports to its northern neighbour, it has emerged.
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, successfully synchronised the first of two generators on Unit 7 into the national grid on Monday, 20 March 2023.
On Thursday 30th March 2023, Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 first achieved a full capacity output of 335MW.
This raised hopes that debilitating unscheduled power cuts will be a thing of the past, but this has not happened.
Addressing journalists during a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, 04 April, Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda, said that load shedding won’t ease anytime soon. He was quoted by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009762/power-cuts-to-persist-minister">NewsDay</a> as saying:
<blockquote>
At the time Unit 7 came in we started experiencing challenges, with our imports from South Africa.
They are also having their own challenges, so there has been a curtailment of power coming from SA.
</blockquote>
He said Unit 7 was still undergoing some tests and is not yet available commercially. He said:
<blockquote>
There has been an improvement in power supply in the country with the coming in of Unit 7.
But you will be cognisant that it’s not yet available commercially. It is still going through some tests,” Soda said.
As we speak, it’s still being tested. So we don’t expect the Zimbabwe Electricity and Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC) to revise its load-shedding schedule soon.
</blockquote>
On Tuesday, 04 April 2022, ZPC was generating 1 071 megawatts split as 709MW from Hwange Power Station, Kariba (350MW) and 12MW from Munyati while Harare and Bulawayo produced zero.
On Wednesday, 05 April 2022, Hwange was generating 412MW, Kariba, 350MW, Munyati, 13MW, Harare, 0, and Bulawayo 0, to give a total of 775MW.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

South Africa Reduces Electricity Exports To Zimbabwe

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZESA">Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)</a> has said Bulawayo waterworks are exempted from load-shedding.
This came after the Local Government Ministry met council officials as well as officials from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) to get an appreciation of the water challenges in Bulawayo.
During the meeting, ZETDC, a subsidiary of ZESA, reportedly undertook to ensure that the city’s water pumping and treatment works are exempted from load shedding.
Commenting on the outcome of the meeting, ZETDC acting western region general manager Engineer Lloyd Jaji, confirmed that the power utility would work on exempting the city’s pumping and treatment works from load shedding. Eng Jaji told <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/no-more-power-cuts-at-water-works-load-shedding-reprieve-for-zitf-period/">The Sunday News</a>:
<blockquote>
If the situation allows, we will surely be exempting their pumping and treatment works from load shedding so as to allow smooth pumping and increase in water supplies from the city. Yes, for now they have dedicated lines to their stations, where the Esigodini line is carrying them but if we get adequate supplies from our power sources, we will be exempting their stations totally from any load shedding.
</blockquote>
Bulawayo Mayor Clr <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Solomon_Mguni">Solomon Mguni</a> also reiterated that ZESA assured the local government authority that the city’s waterworks would be exempted from load-shedding. He is cited as saying:
<blockquote>
It was a closed-door meeting with lots of assurances, basically, the issue of exemption of the treatment works to power cuts by ZETDC and rehabilitation of boreholes at Rochester and Epping Forest by ZINWA and other water projects that may require Government funding came up for discussion.
</blockquote>
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, is facing one of its worst water crises in recent years, which has seen the council adopting a 72-hour water-shedding schedule to conserve available supplies until the next rainy season. However, the local authority has had to constantly suspend the 72-hour shedding schedule replacing it with a provisional water supply restoration schedule, attributing that to erratic power supplies at water stations.
BCC claimed they were only receiving 8-10 hours of power supply a day, resulting in a drop from the early March 2023 system input volume.
While exemption of power cuts at the city’s waterworks is likely to reduce the crisis, the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project is seen as the answer to solve perennial water challenges in Bulawayo. The project is expected to be completed this year, with the construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani and the Shangani Bulawayo pipeline close to completion.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Waterworks Exempted From Load-shedding - ZESA

The City of Bulawayo said that it has requested ZESA to give them advance notices of at least an hour before power cuts to allow the local authority to shut down the pumps properly.
Bulawayo City Council has been spending millions of dollars purchasing and installing new water pumps at its main pumping stations to ease Bulawayo’s water problems.
This was said by acting council director of engineering services, Sikhumbuzo Ncube during a stakeholders briefing meeting on Friday.
Ncube said unscheduled power cuts were damaging water pumps. <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/bcc-engages-zesa-on-power-cuts/">The Sunday News</a> quoted Ncube as saying:
<blockquote>
The kind of pumps that we have need proper shutdown of at least an hour or so. The challenge is that there is no proper power cut schedule which then affects our pumps. 
Council has requested ZESA to give advance notices of at least an hour to enable procedural shutdown of pumps.
We have also engaged the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and this led to the installation of a 500 Kva transformer with enough capacity to power one booster for the pumps.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is suffering a prolonged power shortage, especially after its main Kariba hydropower plant in December 2022 cut electricity generation due to low water levels.
The problem has been compounded by frequent breakdowns at Hwange Thermal Power Station, the shortage of coal to fire Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati power stations, and failure to pay for power imports from neighbouring countries.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo City Council Engages ZESA On Power Cuts

The power supply situation in the country is expected to improve in the next few months as usable water for power generation in Lake Kariba increases, an official has said.
According to the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), the water level in the lake has been rising steadily, from 475.61 metres, or 0.83% of live storage water available for power generation, at the beginning of the year, to 477.90 metres on 13 March 2023, which translates to 16.70% usable storage.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) commercial services director Engineer Gift Ndlovu said power generation at Kariba has improved to an average of 350MW, up from 250MW early this year.
Speaking in a recent engagement with members of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), Ndlovu said:
<blockquote>
In the short to medium term, the power supply situation is bright because there has been improved dam water levels.
By May or June, it will be able to give us some comfort of around 425MW, increasing from the current production.
</blockquote>
According to <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/power-supplies-set-to-improve">The Sunday Mail</a>, significant inflows into Kariba usually start being recorded between April and June.

Rising Kariba Water Level To Boost Power Production - ZESA

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says recurring unscheduled power cuts are negatively affecting the ongoing final mobile voter registration blitz at some centres.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, ZEC said the situation has been worsened by the cloudy weather conditions prevailing in some parts of the country.
ZEC, however, assured citizens that all people who are eligible and willing will be registered for the upcoming harmonised elections. ZEC said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) hereby notifies the public that it is currently experiencing technical difficulties at some of its registration centres.
This is due to shortages of electricity affecting the charging of the BVR kits.
The situation is also worsened by the cloudy weather, which affects the solar-powered BVR kits.
ZEC assures the public that every eligible citizen will be registered.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Load Shedding Affecting Voter Registration - ZEC

ZESA Holdings is currently unable to avail a load-shedding timetable due to the unreliability of Hwange Power Station which is now very old and constantly breaks down.
This was said by Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda on Wednesday in the National Assembly while responding to lawmakers who wanted to know why the power utility had stopped issuing load-shedding schedules. Soda said:
<blockquote>
At the moment, it’s very difficult to come up with a schedule because we have unplanned power outages at Hwange due to its age.
We cannot plan well based on the capacity of Hwange. We have unplanned outages that are occurring from Hwange.
In the morning today, we were obtaining a capacity of 387 megawatts, and you will be surprised that it can go down to 100 megawatts.
Of the four units that are currently in service, some would have gone out of service. So the power station is not reliable at the moment because of age.
We will soon be availing a load-shedding schedule after the coming in of unit seven and unit eight.
If there is going to be any deficit after the two units come in, then ZESA will have to give a load-shedding schedule.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s largest power plant is the Kariba South Bank Hydro, with an installed capacity of 1 050MW followed by Hwange Thermal Power Station with an installed 920MW capacity.
By Thursday afternoon, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was yet to post the power generation statistics on its website.
But the previous day, Wednesday, 08 March, Hwange was generating 401MW, Kariba was producing 253MW and Harare was on 12MW, giving a total of 666MW.
The other two power stations, Munyati and Bulawayo were producing zero.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"Load Shedding Timetable Impossible", Soda Cites Constant Breakdowns At Hwange

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

Energy and Power Development Minister, Soda Zhemu, says the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) should not disconnect power at important institutions such as hospitals.
This comes as power generation by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has plummeted to 320MW in total as of 2 March 2023.
Responding to questions from MPs during a Q and A session in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Soda warned that unplanned power outages will continue until “dependable equipment” is installed at the coal-fired power station in Hwange. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
The depressed power supply outage of Hwange Power Station resulted in three units being lost on 23 and 24 February 2023 respectively.
Hwange Power station lost 363MW from 440MW to 77MW. The old equipment is due for replacement.
The power outage at Hwange was a forced, unplanned fault on the day and until we have dependable equipment that we need, such outages will be common.
</blockquote>
Soda said the government had put in place a national renewable energy policy in 2019 to make use of fossil, solar, wind and biogas energy. He said:
<blockquote>
To date, the government has licensed 90 investments of 20 have been developed adding 68-96 megawatts to the national grid.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe has increased power imports from Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique from 300MW to 500MW, according to Soda.
However, Zimbabwe is currently exporting 80MW to Namibia
In 2015,<a href="https://africa-energy-portal.org/news/zimbabwe-struggling-zesa-set-increase-power-exports-namibia"> Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and Namibia’s electricity company (NamPower) signed a 15-year agreement</a> for Zimbabwe to supply electricity to Namibia following the end of an initial agreement signed in 2006.
The initial agreement between ZESA and NamPower saw the Namibian power utility rehabilitating the Hwange Power Station in Zimbabwe at a cost of US$40 million.
More <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hospitals To Enjoy Uninterrupted Electricity Supply... Zimbabwe Exporting 80MW To Namibia

The new Unit 7 at Hwange Thermal Power Station is expected to come on the grid on 16 March while Unit 8 is expected to come on line April.
This was said by the Minister of Energy and Power Development Minister, Soda Zhemu on Wednesday during the National Assembly question and answer session, reported <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/hwange-unit-7-to-come-on-grid-in-two-weeks/">The Herald</a>.
He was responding to a question by Chegutu West MP, Dexter Nduna (ZANU PF) on what Government was doing to address power blackouts that worsened this week. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
According to ZESA, Unit 7 shall be tied on the grid on the 16th of this month while Unit 8 will come on board a month later.
</blockquote>
Soda blamed the ageing equipment at Hwange Power Station the for the electricity crisis. He said:
<blockquote>
This week we noticed there was a depressed power supply which was occasioned by unfortunate outages at Hwange and we lost three units from the 23rd of February.
This is a result of the age of the equipment which we have always spoken about.
The equipment is now very old, the power station was constructed a long time ago and the equipment is now due for replacement at Hwange power station.
It is unfortunate because these outages are not planned. If they were planned outages, then warnings would have been sent by the power utility.
</blockquote>
Soda also said the water level at Kariba Dam was rising and was now at 14 percent of live storage. He said:
<blockquote>
We hope this will inform the allocation of water for power generation when it’s due for review in a fortnight.
</blockquote>
National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda said there was a need for Soda to bring a comprehensive ministerial statement on the power crisis.
On Wednesday, 01 March 2023, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating a total of 352MW.
Kariba was producing 280MW while Hwange was generating a paltry 72MW.
More <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Unit 7 To Come On Grid On 16 March - Minister Soda

Zimbabwe’s thermal power generation dropped significantly on Tuesday 28 February 2023, with Hwange Thermal Power Station producing only 74 megawatts (MW) against the 920MW installed capacity.
The three small thermal stations – Bulawayo, Harare, and Munyati had zero output.
Hwange Power Station is the largest coal-fired power station in Zimbabwe with 920MW installed capacity which comprises 4x120MW and 2×220 MW units.
According to power generation figures from the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), Hwange Thermal Station production levels fell to 74MW. As a result, households are going for more than 16 hours without power.
Kariba South Hydropower Station was producing 250MW due to low water levels in the dam. The power plant has 1 050MW installed capacity.
Meanwhile, Hwange Power Station has been prone to breakdowns as most of its units are old.
On Monday 27 February, Hwange generated 75MW down from 168MW and 139 MW on Friday and Thursday last week respectively.
Early in the month, Hwange alone contributed about 384MW to the national grid.
Hwange units 7 and 8 are each expected to feed 300MW into the national grid when completed. It is not known when the two units will come on stream.
According to reports, Zimbabwe has a peak electricity demand of 1 600MW.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's Power Plants Generating 324MW In Total

The availability of electricity in the country is expected to significantly improve in the second half of 2023 when two new units at Hwange Power Station come online and the Zimbabwe River Authority (ZRA) increases water allocation to the Kariba Power Station for power generation.
This was said by Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC)’s acting managing director, Howard Choga, during an interview with <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/govt-rejects-zesa-tariff-plan/">Business Times</a>. He said:
<blockquote>
Holding all other things constant, there will be a supply-demand balance in the second half of 2023.
We are expecting Kariba South to generate around 775MW from the current 350MW following an anticipated water level improvement from May.
Also, we are expecting Hwange 7 and 8 to add 600MW to the current 324 to reach above 1000MW.
</blockquote>
Choga said there is a need for a cost-reflective tariff to ensure the viability of the power utility. He said:
<blockquote>
There is a need for a glide path to cost reflectivity, 100% payment of electricity in US$, deduct electricity bills amount – before 75% surrender ratio, recapitalise the industry network reinforcement and rehabilitation for the good operation of the power utility.
With these probable solutions implemented, this could see the power utility performing well.
We hope the authorities will take these recommendations to improve the running of the company.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) John Mangudya has rejected a proposal by ZESA Holdings for businesses to wholly pay electricity tariffs in United States dollars.
ZESA says a 100% USD payment tariff would ensure the country enjoys a steady supply of electricity.

"ZESA To Generate Adequate Power By June 2023"

Zambia’s power utility, the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) has announced the end of load shedding in the country.
The <a href="https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/zesco-declares-end-to-load-shedding/">Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation</a> (ZNBC) cited ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mapani as saying the country will no longer experience load-shedding.
He said households and companies countrywide will now enjoy 24 hours of power supply without any disruptions.
Mapani said this comes after ZESCO restored and upgraded power generation at various power stations in the country.
Addressing a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday, Mapani said ZESCO has revamped the Victoria Falls power station which is currently feeding about 20 Megawatts into the National Grid.
He said ZESCO has also upgraded power generation at Kafue Gorge Upper and Lower Power Stations by over 150 megawatts.
He also disclosed that ZESCO will soon increase power generation at Lake Kariba from the current 250 megawatts to 350 due to the increase in water levels in the Kariba Dam.
Zambia also plans to begin the importation of about 120 megawatts from Mozambique, Mapani further revealed.
Last month ZESCO <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zambias-power-utility-increases-daily-load-shedding-hours-to-12/">announced increased hours of load shedding to twelve (12) hours daily</a> with effect from 4 January 2023.
ZESCO said the development was in response to a drastic reduction in available water in the Kariba reservoir for electricity generation as well as routine annual maintenance at a smaller power station.

Zambia's Power Utility Declares End To Load Shedding

Funeral parlours have now adopted the use of solar energy and generators as well as approved chemicals to preserve bodies amid prolonged power cuts.
Doves Funeral Group spokesperson Innocent Tshuma told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200006695/funeral-parlours-switch-to-alternative-power-to-stay-in-business">NewsDay</a> that being in the industry for a long time has enabled the company to transition from relying on electricity to the adoption of alternative power sources. Said Tshuma:
<blockquote>
Being in existence for over 120 years has allowed us to prepare adequately to provide for unparalleled seamless service in our industry.
The preparation allows us to operate in any given environment as we have alternative redundancy power sources such as solar and generators in our wide branch network.
We have also adopted the use of chemicals that preserve bodies for a longer time. 
Our state of the art mortuaries allow us to have the country’s largest holding capacity combined with the best industry practices.
Our agile and committed work force use appropriate and approved chemicals which increase preservation.
In turn this provides peace of mind to our clients that are assured that they will get a dignified send off to their loved ones.
</blockquote>
Prolonged power outages in the country have affected most businesses including funeral parlours and hospital mortuaries.

Power Cuts Force Funeral Parlours To Switch To Alternative Power

South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, on Sunday, 22 January, announced that load shedding would be permanently implemented over the next two years.
Eskom chairperson, Mpho Makwana, said power cuts between Stages 2 and 3 are planned for the next two years.
Makwana said this will create “some predictability” and allow the power utility enough room to perform maintenance and increase the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) enough to put an end to load shedding within the next two years. Said Makwana:
<blockquote>
The global average for EAF is about 86%. We’re looking to grow from our current 58% EAF to 70% in the next two years.
</blockquote>
The planned journey to 70% is hoped to take place on the following timeline:
<ul>
<li>60% EAF — end-March 2023</li>
<li>65% EAF — end-March 2024</li>
<li>70% EAF — end-March 2025</li>
</ul>
The outgoing Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter, said the possibility of Stage 8 load shedding is receding but an “inherent risk” remains. He said:
<blockquote>
The possibility of stage 8 load-shedding is receding, which is comforting and positive.
However, there is always an inherent risk, and for that purpose, we have to protect our diesel reserves.
</blockquote>
Eskom Chief Operating Officer, Jan Oberholzer, said 43% of the utility’s electricity-generating units are currently offline due to breakdowns and planned maintenance. | <a href="https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/477261-eskom-announces-permanent-load-shedding.html">My Broadband</a>

SA: Eskom Announces Permanent Load Shedding For Next Two Years

Unscheduled power cuts which worsened towards the end of 2022 and spilled over into 2023 are being addressed, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
Posting on his Twitter page on Tuesday, Mnangagwa said the upgrading and expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station show that the country is on the right path as far as the provision of reliable power supply is concerned. He wrote:
<blockquote>
Power has long been a challenge in Zimbabwe. We are working to provide our country with the best and most reliable power.
The work on the Hwange Thermal Power Station, which I visited last year, shows how far we have come and what is possible in the future. #Vision 2030.
</blockquote>
The newly-built Unit 7 at Hwange Thermal Power Station will be commissioned soon and will add 300MW to the national grid, a government official said recently.
Speaking about the power situation a few days ago, Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda said Unit 7 was expected to be fully operational at the end of December 2022.
He said there were delays in bringing in technicians from the Chinese company ABB to conduct the testing on the protection system following the resurgence of COVID-19 in China.
Soda said the actual unit of coal feed, boiler, turbines and generator are fully functional. He said:
<blockquote>
The testing of the power plant was done and passed.
We are only left with the testing of the protection system that allows for the evacuation of power to the transmission system and a team from China only came into the country in mid-December when we initially expected them in November.
There was also a delay in their understanding of all the systems; we are now expecting them to complete the test in three weeks and to have the plant run by the end of this month.
We don’t expect to take much longer to commission Unit 8 because we have learned many lessons from the current unit.
</blockquote>
Unit 8 is also expected to inject 300MW into the national grid. Zimbabwe is currently generating less than half of its electricity needs.
On Tuesday, 10 January, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating a total of 681MW from its three functional power plants – Munyati (23MW), Kariba (244MW) and Hwange (414MW).

Load Shedding Set To Ease - ED

Mozambique’s Electridade de Moçambique (EDM) plans to increase power exports to other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.
Speaking to the AIM news agency, EDM chairman Marcelino Gildo Alberto said that power exports to the region currently represent 22 per cent of EDM’s annual revenues. <a href="https://macaonews.org/portuguese-speaking-countries/electricidade-de-mocambique-to-export-energy-to-south-africa-zambia-and-zimbabwe/">The Macao News quoted Alberto as saying</a>:
<blockquote>
The southern African region is in crisis. South Africa is short of power, Zimbabwe the same, Zambia too, and recently we learned that Tanzania is starting to have problems.
So, we are going to take advantage of this situation to sell to the regional market, because we have surplus energy.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe and Zambia’s electricity crises are partly attributable to falling water levels at Lake Kariba.
Last year, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) ordered ZESA and ZESCO, Zimbabwe and Zambia’s power utilities respectively, to reduce electricity generation last year.
Zimbabwe operates the Kariba South Bank Power Station, which has an installed capacity of 1 050MW, while Zambia operates the Kariba North Bank Power Station which has an installed capacity of 1 080MW.
On 4 January 2023, Zambia’s State-owned power utility ZESCO Limited increased hours of load shedding to twelve (12) hours daily due to low water levels in the lake.
ZESA was also forced to reduce power generation at Kariba South Power Station towards the end of 2022 due to dwindling water levels, and as of 5 January 2023, the power plant was generating a meagre 260MW.

Mozambican Firm To Export Electricity To Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zambia

Zambia’s State-owned power utility ZESCO Limited has increased hours of load shedding to twelve (12) hours daily with effect from 4 January 2023.
In a statement, ZESCO said the development was in response to a drastic reduction in available water in the Kariba reservoir for electricity generation as well as routine annual maintenance at a smaller power station. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
ZESCO Limited will with effect from Wednesday, 4 January 2023 adjust the hours of load shedding to twelve (12) hours daily, until further notice.
The Corporation’s ability to meet power demand remains constrained by the drastic reduction in available water in the Kariba reservoir for electricity generation at Kariba North Bank Power Station.
At present, the power station’s generating capacity has been reduced from its installed 1080MegaWatts (MW) to below 400MW.
Furthermore, the 150MW generator outage at Maamba Collieries Limited Power Plant for routine annual maintenance from 4 January until 20 January 2023 has exacerbated the situation.
ZESCO deeply regrets the inconvenience caused.
</blockquote>

Zambia's Power Utility Increases Daily Load Shedding Hours to 12

A family in the Mahuhushe area of Lutumba in Beitbridge was robbed at gunpoint on Monday after four assailants pounced while they were checking the fuel level in a generator.
The family lost an assortment of goods and money worth over R13 000 to the suspects.
Zimbabweans are spending more than 15 hours a day without electricity, which in most cases is restored after 11 PM.
Robbers have taken advantage of the darkness caused by unscheduled power cuts to terrorise residents and businesspeople.
Some well-to-do families have resorted to using generators to power their gadgets.
Police in Beitbridge are investigating the robbery incident in the Mahuhushe area and have appealed to anyone with information to contact the nearest police station.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge district, chief superintendent Tichaona Nyongo confirmed the robbery incident.
He said that on the fateful day at around midnight, the four complainants were having a party, playing music and drinking alcoholic beverages at Misheck Chauke’s homestead. Said Chief Supt Nyongo:
<blockquote>
During the process, two of the complainants went to check the fuel level in the generator they were using to power the homestead.
Suddenly the four suspects appeared at the gate armed with a pellet gun and fired two shots in the air ordering everybody to lie down.
For fear for their lives, the victims complied and one of the suspects guarded those who were lying on the ground.
The suspects then searched everyone and ransacked the house taking cell phones and cash all worth R12 100 as well as US$100 cash before leaving
</blockquote>
The matter was later reported at Lutumba Police Station on the same day.
Chief Supt Nyongo said the police recovered two spent cartridges fired from the pellet gun at the scene but none of the complainants was injured. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/armed-robbers-strike-again-in-beitbridge/">The Herald</a>

Load Shedding Exposes Beitbridge Family To Armed Robbers

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.
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FULL TEXT: Minister Of Energy Issues Statement On Power Crisis

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