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Energy and Power Power Development Minister, Zhemu Soda said that the Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7 will be back on the national grid on Monday.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) announced that the 300MW Hwange Unit 7 had been temporarily removed from the grid for system evaluation before the final commissioning phase.
Responding to questions from Senators on Thursday, Soda said the reliability tests for Unit 7 had been completed and it will be back on the grid on Monday. The <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/hwange-unit-7-passes-test-runs-back-on-grid-next-monday/">Chronicle</a> quoted the Minister as saying:
<blockquote>
It was being run on commissioning tests where they were testing the turbine running capacity, which was successful and also the boiler hydraulics.
What happened is that after running it for the period of the tests, they took it out of the grid in order for technicians to do evaluations before the unit is run on a commercial basis.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the synchronisation of Unit 8 did not go as planned on 16 May, according to the Minister.
He said when the synchronisation started, engineers discovered after about three hours that there was an area that they needed to attend to and it was taken off the grid. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
They have been working on the unit and according to what they had pre-determined at a time when they took it off the grid, the unit was supposed to be tied back to the grid today (last Thursday).
</blockquote>
He said he was yet to get an update from the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) on whether that had happened.
Unit 7 and 8 are expected to add 600 megawatts to the grid and reduce the duration of unscheduled power cuts being experienced across the country.
The two units were built at a cost of about US$1.4 billion by a Chinese contractor.
The Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion project started in 2018 but was affected by a number of unforeseen events such as the COVID-19 outbreak.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Hwange Unit 7 Back On The Grid On 22 May

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Kurai Matsheza says another electricity tariff increase could trigger a rise in prices.
This comes as manufacturers, who were seeking the Government’s intervention on umbrella US$ billing, were told to embrace it and expect a cost-reflective tariff by the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zhemu Soda.
Speaking to <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/more-pain-for-zim-industry/">Business Times</a>, Matsheza said the development will trigger price increases, as the businesses will pass on the cost to consumers to survive. He said:
<blockquote>
We engaged the Energy and Power Development minister [Soda Zhemu] over the blanket US$ billing and his response was the billing was justified and the current power tariff was not cost-reflective despite an increase to around US$0.12 per kWh from US$0.09/ kWh.
</blockquote>
Last month, captains of industry and ZESA held a meeting on power billing in USD but the meeting proved fruitless after the power utility rejected local companies’ proposals.
Manufacturers wanted the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a unit of ZESA Holdings, to have the US$ bills to be matched to the proportion of forex sales but the power utility rejected the proposal and insisted on a blanket bill.
Matsheza said the tariff for exporters was way above the regional average of US11.7c/ kWh. He said:
<blockquote>
ZETDC told us the billing in US$ for exporting companies and those who are generating US$ through local sales should pay 100% in forex.
We raised an issue to say these blanket groupings may not be ideal. Whilst we understand the need to raise US$, why didn’t they look at the individual customer and say to what extent do you generate US$ sales and bill accordingly?
</blockquote>
Captains of industry are arguing that if one is an exporter and exports at an extent of 50% that is what must be billed.
However, according to CZI, Zhemu said the sub-economic tariff had left ZESA in a crisis.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Electricity Tariff Increase Could Trigger Price Hikes - CZI

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 Minister of Energy and Power Development Zhemu Soda last week said Zimbabwe has vast unexploited energy resources, both renewable and unrenewable, that offer significant opportunities for investors, reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009360/zim-seated-on-huge-renewable-energy-resources">NewsDay</a>.
The renewables include solar, wind, hydro, and biomass, while non-renewables are coal, coalbed methane and potential oil and gas.
Addressing delegates at the fourth International Renewable Energy Conference and Expo 2023 held in Victoria Falls last week, Soda said:
<blockquote>
Solar potential is 16 to 20 megajoules per square meter per day, which is vastly unexploited and is present in several regions of the country.
By end of 2022, Zimbabwe had grid-connected installed solar capacity of only 40 megawatts, mainly 24 megawatts from the independent power producers (IPPs) and the balance for own consumption is now being connected through the net metering facilities.
That is short of the potential of over 100 gigawatts as per the renewable energy policy instruments.
Through partnerships with the World Bank, five out of 17 sites have three feasibility studies done with a total capacity of 370 megawatts in preparation for competitive procurement.
</blockquote>
He said small hydropower projects can be undertaken in the Eastern Highlands region and on perennial rivers and most inland dams. Added Soda:
<blockquote>
These are small projects we can develop using our resources if we can work together.
On a larger scale, we have over 5 000 megawatts of large hydro potential along the Zambezi River basin which doubles between Victoria Falls and the Indian Ocean, including sites in Mozambique.
</blockquote>
Soda also said the country has a total potential of 1 000 megawatts from biomass in the form of agricultural and municipal waste, forest residue and other forms.
Zimbabwe has unharnessed geothermal energy potential of around 50 megawatts, said Soda.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's Renewable Energy Resources Vastly Unexploited - Minister Soda

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda has said the commissioning of two new units at Hwange Thermal Power Plant, that is units 7 and 8, “is complex”.
This comes amid indications that the state-owned power utility, ZESA Holdings, has missed several deadlines to commission the units and ease load shedding in the country.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/power-outages-ease-supply-not-guaranteed/">Business Weekly</a> last week, Soda said the synchronisation of Unit 7 for it to come on board was “almost complete.” He said:
<blockquote>
A lot of processes are involved; these include testing the performance compliance levels at various production levels.
You need to understand the behaviour of the plant; say when it is producing 100 MW, or 200MW.
So even when we switch them on, we still have to do all those processes and when that is done, we can then start producing at a commercial scale.
</blockquote>
Soda said the COVID-19 pandemic also delayed the commissioning of units 7 and 8 as technicians from China could not travel to Zimbabwe.
He added that Sino Hydro, the company contracted to build 7 &amp; 8 had subcontracted ABB to conduct testing of the protection system but due to the resurgence of the pandemic late last year, the technicians failed to travel to Zimbabwe.
When the technicians eventually arrived, it took time for them to understand the system and they also needed to be reinforced by a team from South Africa.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"Commissioning Of Hwange Units 7 & 8 Complex"

Energy and Power Development Minister, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Soda_Zhemu">Zhemu Soda</a> has said <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZESA">ZESA Holdings</a> is in the process of procuring a lot of vehicles.
He made the remarks in Parliament on Wednesday while responding to Members of Parliament who had raised concern over reports that ZESA technicians were requesting fuel and even transport from clients to attend to faults.
Parliamentarians on Wednesday asked Soda if it was now part of the ZESA’s operation procedures to ask clients to donate goods and services as they execute their duties. Minister Soda said:
<blockquote>
What I know for now is that ZESA is procuring a lot of vehicles and they have since placed an order with Isuzu although it is taking longer for the vehicles to be delivered. The vehicles are coming in small batches yet people want service and they are calling for service in numbers.
</blockquote>
He said it was not Government’s policy that clients donate services to ZESA technicians to use for repairs or any work related to electricity.
Minister Soda said farmers, however, offer vehicles and even fuel for ZESA technicians to fast-track attendance to their faults. 
He said ZESA now demands that members of the public who offer services write an affidavit confirming that they have provided technicians with either transport or fuel.
The minister added that there are cases where ZESA technicians are given resources by members of the public to attend to faults but still approach the power utility claiming they would have used their own resources. 
In urban areas, consumers also volunteer to buy power cables and transformers to fast-track connectivity and the utility company reimburses them with electricity units.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

ZESA Is Procuring A Lot Of Vehicles - Energy Minister

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

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda said that members of the public who assist ZESA workers to come and fix faults in their neighborhoods are not forced to do so.
Reports claim that ZESA customers across the country are sometimes asked to contribute various amounts of money to enable ZESA to attend to their faults.
According to <a href="https://openparly.com/people-voluntarily-assist-zesa-no-one-is-forced-says-govt/">Open Parly</a>, some ZESA customers have contributed towards buying transformers, transformer oil and other service parts.
The issue was recently raised in the National Assembly by Makoni Central MP, David Tekeshe (MDC Alliance).
In his response, Soda said people who help ZESA do so voluntarily without any kind of compulsion. He said:
<blockquote>
That is not Government policy where people are now expected to buy fuel and donate their cars for ZESA technicians to use for repairs or any work related to electricity. This is witnessed especially from farmers.
The farmers kindly ask for technicians to come and assist them by sending transport so that they immediately attend to their problem because sometimes they are told that technicians would have gone out to attend to other faults.
What is happening now is that any technician who volunteers to do such a job, they are supposed to sign a document that they are volunteering to offer those services as well as fuel to ZESA and this is for accountability purposes.
People are not forced to do that but they do it voluntarily. What is happening right now is, those who volunteer to assist ZESA are supposed to complete those documents and there should be supervision to ensure that work is properly done.
Sometimes ZESA workers may also go to ZESA and claim that they used their own fuel after being given that fuel by the customer. I thank you.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Minister Soda Says Households, Businesses That Assist ZESA Do So Voluntarily

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

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda has said the expansion of the Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 is 99 percent complete, with only the synchronisation of the whole system set to be done.
The Unit is expected to add 300MW to the national grid upon completion.
Addressing journalists in Harare, Soda said the synchronisation will be completed anytime this month. <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/hwange-thermal-power-station-unit-7-99-percent-complete/">The Herald</a> quoted Soda as saying:
<blockquote>
Hwange Unit 7 has actually progressed with all other systems having undergone commissioning tests and they were successful.
One of the critical stages in the commissioning of a power station is the achievement of certain revolutions of the turbine and that was achieved.
We are only left with the synchronisation of the whole system starting from where the coal is burnt, steam is produced, turbines are turned and causes the generator to produce electricity which is evacuated into the grid.
We expect that anytime from now given that the whole system is 99 percent complete; we are only left with one percent which is the synchronisation of the whole system.
</blockquote>
Work on the project started in August 2018 using an initial $199 million from China Eximbank but its completion was delayed by the outbreak of the coronavirus in late 2019.
According to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) <a href="https://www.zpc.co.zw/">website</a>, on Monday, 13 February, Hwange Thermal Power Station was generating 378MW.

Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7 Now 99% Complete - Soda

Energy and Power Development Minister, Zhemu Soda, has said the commissioning of Unit 7 at the Hwange Thermal Power Plant is “almost complete”.
Speaking in an interview with State media on Wednesday, Soda said engineers are now finalising works on the protection system that allows evacuation of power from the Unit to the grid. 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 end of this month.
</blockquote>
Commercial production from Unit 7 was initially expected to start at the end of December 2022.
The Unit will produce 300MW and Unit 8, which is scheduled to be commissioned later in this quarter will also have the same capacity. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
We don’t expect it to take much longer to commission Unit 8 because we have learned many lessons from the current unit.
</blockquote>
After the commissioning of Hwange 7 &amp; 8, ZESA intends to start major rehabilitation of the existing units to restore their capacity to 930 MW.
The government has reportedly secured US$310 million from the Export-Import Bank of India for the exercise. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/hwange-unit-7-testing-in-final-stages/">The Herald</a>

Hwange Power Station Unit 7 Testing In Final Stages - Soda

The Member of Parliament for Mazowe South Fortune Chasi has not been reappointed as Energy and Power Development Minister.
The portfolio is still held by Muzarabani North legislator Zhemu Soda who took over from Chasi following his sacking by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in August 2020.
Chasi was recently reappointed Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs in the ZANU PF Politburo and some of his followers on social media thought he had been reappointed Energy Minister.
Chasi, who is widely believed to have stabilised power utility ZESA when he was still Energy Minister, clarified the reappointment on Twitter. He said:
<blockquote>
CORRECTION: I’m inundated with congratulatory messages on being REAPPOINTED ENERGY MINISTER. This is not true. I was reappointed Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs in the ZANU-PF POLITBURO. Handi ko Ku Magetsi (I’m not the Minister of Energy). Hon Soda is still the Minister.
The correct position is that I was appointed to this position in 2017 or 18. We were dissolved and after recent internal elections, I have been appointed to the same position.
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa fired Chasi on 14 August 2022 and replaced him with Soda. A statement issued by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, announcing the changes, read:
<blockquote>
In terms of Section 104 (1) of the Zimbabwe Constitution Amendment (No. 20) Act of 2013, His Excellency the President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Hon Soda Zhemu Member of Parliament for Muzarabani North as Minister of Energy and Power Development in place of current Minister Honourable Fortune Chasi.
The latter has been relieved of his ministerial post as his conduct of business had become incompatible with the president’s expectations.
The appointment of Hon Zhemu and the removal of advocate Chasi is with remediate effect.
</blockquote>
Chasi was reportedly fired for his efforts to level the playing field in the fuel sector, something which did not go down well with powerful fuel cartels that have captured the State.
A Ministry of Energy official who spoke to The Zimbabwe Independent <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/08/28/powerful-fuel-cartels-behind-chasis-sacking/">said Chasi was fired partly because he wanted to break Sakunda’s monopolistic hold of the NOIC fuel pipeline</a>. The official was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
You must understand that at NOIC, Chasi was trying to even out the playing field in the fuel sector by ensuring that Sakunda Holdings will not continue to enjoy the monopolistic utilisation of the pipeline while also trying to fully assert Noic’s control over the pipeline. Sadly, this unsettled the interests of powerful fuel cartels.
His plans to revive efforts to build a second fuel pipeline were also met with fierce resistance by the same powerful forces.
He was trying to do many things right at the same time. He could not have prevailed over the combined efforts by the ethanol blending and fuel cartels.
</blockquote>

Chasi Has NOT Been Reappointed Minister Of Energy

An energy expert has said the Zimbabwean government should have shifted to solar energy a long time ago and would have avoided the current power crisis.
Benjamin Amos speaks as the southern African nation is experiencing some of its worst power outages in memory with electricity available only between 10 pm and 4 am in most parts of the country. 
The country’s peak demand is 2 200 megawatts (MW), according to authorities, but is currently producing about 650MW only with experts urging the government to prioritise other sources of renewable energy.
Amos said the mere fact that Zimbabwe and Zambia were experiencing different load-shedding schedules showed the difference in planning between the two countries. He told the <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/news/article/200005184/power-crisis-leaves-govt-in-sixes-and-sevens">Standard</a>:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe is having prolonged blackouts lasting for 22 hours daily and Zambia will start to implement load shedding for six hours. We have the same climate. Zimbabwe is severely affected because of poor planning on our part.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
The writing has been on the wall since the 1980s that hydro-power would be less sustainable in the future.
Government should have introduced full-proofing measures long ago.
Climate change presents an opportunity to shift to green energy.
We are experiencing more sunny days than usual. Government should have shifted to solar energy a long time ago.
</blockquote>
Information from the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) showed that the country’s capacity utilisation went down from a 10-year high of 57% in 2021 to 51% this year.
Energy and Power Development minister Zhemu Soda last week said the power deficit was mainly triggered by winter wheat farming which consumed more electricity and also blamed consumers were not paying their bills.
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa last week blamed the crisis on former president Robert Mugabe’s maladministration.  
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"Govt Should Have Shifted To Solar Energy A Long Time Ago" - Energy Expert

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

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

Energy minister <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Soda_Zhemu">Zhemu Soda</a> has said Zambia has allowed Zimbabwe to use its water in Kariba Dam to generate electricity at the Kariba South Hydropower Plant.
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) allocates 45 billion cubic metres of water to both Zimbabwe and Zambia for power generation at Kariba.
The authority said water levels have now declined beyond usable levels hence the need for Zimbabwe to cut generation at Kariba by half from about 600 megawatts (MW) while Zambia was ordered to reduce to a maximum of 800 MW.
The country relied more on Kariba hydro-energy for electricity during the winter cropping season, thereby exhausting its water allocation, <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004957/winter-wheat-gobbled-our-electricity-govt">NewsDay</a> reported citing the minister.
Speaking during the <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/energy-minister-launches-renewable-energy-fund/">official launch</a> of a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) Fund and Stakeholder Engagement function in Harare, on Monday, Soda said:
<blockquote>
Because of what we were experiencing at Hwange Power Station, the faults that are currently obtaining at the boilers — we had to depend on Kariba Dam more than the Zambians did; especially during winter when we wanted to produce adequate wheat. It was a strategy and it worked because we will not import wheat because of the bumper harvest.
The cost has been on excessive use of water which was supposed to be spared. We are very aware that we overused our water and by last week, Zimbabwe had overused the water by around 5% of its allocation. We are actually using Zambian water to generate electricity for ourselves. There was a high-level meeting between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and Zambia allowed us to use its water to generate 300 megawatts.
</blockquote>
The Energy minister said traditional source markets for power imports had been affected by climate change.
Soda said the government was encouraging power-generating institutions and households to be on the national grid.
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Zambia Allows Zimbabwe To Use Its Water To Generate Electricity - Energy Minister

Opposition <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Citizens%27_Coalition_for_Change">Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)</a> national spokesperson, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Fadzayi_Mahere">Fadzayi Mahere</a> has said the ruling ZANU PF looted the money that was supposed to be used for the refurbishment and or building of Zimbabwe’s energy infrastructure.
Mahere speaks as Zimbabwe is facing prolonged blackouts due to <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/severe-load-shedding-looms-as-zra-tells-zesa-to-shut-down-kariba-power-station/">decreasing water levels at Kariba Dam.</a> In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Mahere said:
<blockquote>
@edmnangagwa (President Emmerson Mnangagwa) has had 5 years to solve the power crisis. Instead, he plunged the nation into darkness. Industry cannot be productive because they failed to plan &amp; looted all the money that should have built &amp; maintained our energy infrastructure. We need new leaders.
Zimbabweans have already been disconnected from the national grid. No country with a competent Govt has 22-hour load shedding daily. Why did they fail to invest in the national grid like Zambia? Citizens want a new, ethical, competent Govt led by Adv <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Nelson_Chamisa">@nelsonchamisa (Nelson Chamisa)</a>!
</blockquote>
Mahere’s remarks were echoed by Dr Grant Murewanhema @geemurie who said Zimbabwe has many possible sources of power generation. Murewanhema said:
<blockquote>
 42 years down the line we should be drowning in energy abundance.
</blockquote>
While government critics say the power crisis in the southern African country is man-made, Energy and Power Development minister Zhemu Soda Sunday said <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/the-situation-at-kariba-is-mainly-due-to-natural-causes-energy-minister/">the situation is a result of natural causes</a>.
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"ZANU PF Govt Looted Money For Building Zimbabwe's Energy Infrastructure" - Fadzayi Mahere

Energy and Power Development minister Zhemu Soda Sunday said the decline in the quantity of power generated at Kariba is as a result of natural causes, <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004481/no-funding-for-power-imports-minister">NewsDay</a> reported. 
His remarks come after the Zimbabwe Power Company, a subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), was directed by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) to scale down operations at Kariba South Hydropower Station to allow water to refill at Kariba Dam.
ZPC stated on 5 December 2022 (today) that only 200MW were being generated at the plant.
The situation means Zimbabwe will likely have prolonged power cuts. Commenting on the situation while addressing journalists in Harare, Soda 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 which we are looking forward to getting from our neighbours.
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.
Over and above the above measures, government is pursuing a medium to long-term plan to meet the power needs of the country. The government is supporting the acceleration of implementation of renewable energy projects by independent power producers.
Government has identified some solar sites where it will fast-track implementation and pre-feasibility studies have already been done. It must be noted that the situation at Kariba is mainly due to natural causes and the ministry is doing all in its power to avert the situation.
The Zimbabwean government has turned to neighbouring countries seeking to increase imports from the region and replace 300MW lost through restrictions at Kariba.
</blockquote>
Currently, Zimbabwe is importing a combined 250 megawatts (MW) from South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.
Additional negotiations are ongoing, with 150MW expected from Mozambique, Soda said.
Zhemu made the remarks after hopes to import more power from Zambia were dampened with the neighbouring country introducing a six-hour daily load-shedding regime starting on December 15.
Zimbabwe had hoped to plug the supply gap with additional power imports from Zambia. 
However, the latest developments mean continued power imports from Zambia is no longer guaranteed.
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The Situation At Kariba Is Mainly Due To Natural Causes - Energy Minister

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Obert_Masaraure">Obert Masaraure</a> who leads the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Amalgamated_Rural_Teachers_Union_of_Zimbabwe">Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ)</a> has urged fellow citizens to demand service delivery from the government saying they can’t defer their lives to the 2023 ballot when they will elect a new government.
He specifically mentioned the power crisis in Zimbabwe saying the southern African country has the potential to be a net exporter of power adding that citizens have to push authorities for that to happen. 
His remarks come after President Emmerson Mnangagwa Sunday stated that the <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/the-power-crisis-makes-us-unattractive-to-investments-president-mnangagwa/">power crisis was making Zimbabwe unattractive to potential investors</a> and that the government was working on finding solutions. 
In a Twitter thread seen by Pindula News, Masaraure said:
<blockquote>
We can’t defer our lives to the 2023 ballot. The gvt of the day must deliver services now. The electricity crisis must be solved now! Ruling elites are swimming in 500 000, 350 000 &amp; 40 000 but they can’t import electricity? Fellow Citizens let’s unite &amp; demand services from our gvt. 
Solutions to the electricity crisis are not very sophisticated, we have the potential to be net exporters of clean electricity. What we need is an active citizenry to hold duty-bearers accountable. If citizens unite and demand electricity this crisis will be a thing of the past.
The NDS1 set targets on power generation, giving alternatives to hydroelectric power in the context of climate change &amp; import substitution measures in face of erratic regional supplies. What has to be done is known &amp; well-documented. An active citizenry can force gvt to implement.
But we need a competent Energy Minister to lead the implementation of NDS1.<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Fortune_Chasi">@fortunechasi</a> was way better than the Soda guy.
</blockquote>
He rallied Zimbabweans to petition President Mnangagwa to fire Energy Minister <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Soda_Zhemu">Zhemu Soda</a> and “get us a competent Minister to implement NDS1.”
He said, “Soda can also save himself the Shame and just resign.”
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Masaraure Urges Zimbabweans To Demand Services Now, Not To "Defer Lives To 2023 Ballot"

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

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda said the ongoing amendment of the Electricity Act will come up with stiffer penalties that will deter perpetrators of power supply equipment vandalism.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/honeymoon-over-for-electricity-vandals/">The Manica Post</a> on the sidelines of the Ministry of Energy and Power Development third quarter strategic planning and performance review workshop in Nyanga recently, Soda said:
<blockquote>
The amendments to the Electricity Act will result in stiffer penalties being meted out to vandals.
We are referring to those destroying equipment that is supposed to be used in the transmission and distribution of electricity.
Everyone is noticing what is happening. We have people tampering with the equipment, so we are proposing stiffer penalties through the amendments.
This will act as a deterrent to would-be offenders. People must not tamper with electricity transmission equipment for whatever reason.
</blockquote>
According to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), 535 cases of power supply infrastructure vandalism or theft, with a total cost of US$1.5 million, were recorded during the first quarter of this year nationwide.
Only US$113 063 was recovered, constituting 14 percent recovery.
A total of 89 arrests were made and of those, only 19 were convicted.

New Electricity Law Will Deter Would-be Offenders - Soda

Zimbabwe is now pinning hopes of improved electricity generation on the commissioning of unit 7 at the Hwange Power Station later this year as the water at the Kariba hydroelectric plant has fallen to a critically low level while existing generators at Hwange frequently break down.
According to ZESA Holdings’ internal statistics, the dam level of usable live water for generating power had dropped to 6.6 percent as of Thursday, 17 November.
Meanwhile, three generators at Hwange were shut down on Wednesday because of boiler tube leaks and the plant was running on two units, producing 231 megawatts to the plant’s rated capacity of 920 MW.
At Kariba, three units are down for various maintenance works and the plant was producing 475 MW.
All of the country’s small power units — Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo, were shut down due to coal shortages.
Independent power producers are supplying 29 MW to the grid and 290 MW are being imported from Zambia, South Africa, and Mozambique, but the country has a deficit of 612 MW.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/zim-pins-hope-on-hwange-as-lake-kariba-drains/">Business Weekly</a> in an interview, Power and Energy Development Minister Zhemu Soda said the commissioning of unit 7 at Hwange is expected to feed 300 MW. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
Our hope now lies in unit seven. (Exiting) units at Hwange are coming out anytime and it’s no longer a surprise for us because the equipment has become too obsolete and we can’t rely on them.
</blockquote>
He said the commercial production may begin later this month or early December.
Unit 8, for an additional 300MW, is expected to come online during the first quarter of next year. Added:
<blockquote>
Although we are concerned about the water level at Kariba, Zambezi River Authority (which manages the lake) has advised us that we may continue generating and are also expecting early inflows to the lake due to early rain.
</blockquote>

Govts Pins Hope On Hwange Unit 7, As Kariba Depletes

Zimbabwe’s current electricity challenges are far from over as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is failing to meet growing power demands with the region experiencing a generation capacity shortfall of 5 000 MW.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) offices in Harare on Monday, Energy and Power Development minister Zhemu Soda said:
<blockquote>
Of late the electricity supply Industry in the SADC region has been characterised by insufficient generation capacity to meet the growing power demand, where the current generation capacity shortfall is five thousand (5 000 MW) megawatts.
Other challenges are the lack of adequate transmission and distribution infrastructure to deliver electricity to end users, high transmission and power distribution losses; which increase the cost of supply to consumers, and limited regional trade of power due to transmission constraints and particularly along the central transmission corridor.
</blockquote>
Zhemu said solutions to the challenges require cooperation by the regional countries. He said:
<blockquote>
The region can save up to US$37 billion if coordinated planning is followed as per the estimate of the SAPP Pool Plan of 2017. 
SAPP is also working on the Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility with the objective of unlocking transmission constraints and promoting the financing and development of new transmission infrastructure.
</blockquote>
SAPP was created in August 1995 at the SADC summit held in Kempton Park, South Africa, and consists of national electricity companies in the region.
The members of SAPP have created a common power grid between their countries and a common market for electricity in the SADC region.
Meanwhile, Zhemu said that electricity demand in Zimbabwe is driven by a resurgence of mining activities and demand is growing. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200002884/sadc-failing-to-meet-growing-power-demands-zhemu">NewsDay</a>

SADC Failing To Meet Growing Power Demands - Soda

Zimbabwe has secured US$310 million from the Export-Import Bank of India to rehabilitate six units at the Hwange Power Station in a bid to restore its capacity to 920 megawatts.
Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda said the rehabilitation of the ageing thermal power plant shall be done in three phases and is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2023.
He also said the rehabilitation will be after the commissioning of units 7 (early next month) and 8 (during the first quarter of 2023).
Units 7 and 8 have a generation capacity of 300 MW.
The Government contracted Sino-Hydro to fund the expansion of Hwange in a deal worth US$1.2 billion. Minister Soda said:
<blockquote>
We are likely to have two units decommissioned at a time (to pave way for rehabilitation) until all the units have been repaired. We are looking at restoring the capacity of all the units to 920MW upon completion.
</blockquote>
He said the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has engaged a consultant who is already working on a detailed project report that will detail the scope of the work and “it should be ready by end of November.”
Soda said the report will pave way for the disbursement of the funds by the Exim Bank of India.
The loan from India comes when Zimbabwe is already experiencing load shedding due to frequent breakdowns at the Hwange power plant which produces an average of between 380 MW and 400MW, 40m percent below its capacity.
Last week, Zimbabwe experienced a countrywide blackout after transmission infrastructure at Alaska caught fire, resulting in the disturbance of the national transmission system.
All the power stations, except Harare, were switched off and it took almost five hours to restore the system. 
Electricity imports also went down as ESKOM, one of the suppliers, is failing to generate enough for South Africa alone.
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Zimbabwe Gets US$310 million From India For Rehabilitation Of Hwange Power Station

Energy and Power Development Minister Soda Zhemu says the government expects the business sector to start reducing prices as fuel prices continue to fall.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://newziana.co.zw/2022/09/14/govt-calls-on-business-to-reduce-prices/">New Ziana</a>, Soda said business should slash prices in tandem with the drop in fuel prices, and stabilised exchange rates, among other factors. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
What we have seen in the past is that when the price of fuel increased even by a single cent, business would increase prices of basic commodities.
… Now that the price of fuel is going down, we do not seem to see that reflected in the prices of goods and services, and it is actually a concern.
They should pass the benefits accruing to the consumers just as they were doing when things were difficult. Why not now?
</blockquote>
He noted that the business sector is always quick to increase prices whenever the price of a key input, such as fuel, was increased, yet was reluctant to reduce prices when fuel prices have been going down.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority reduced the price of petrol from $1.58 to $1.53 per litre.

Govt Urges Business Sector To Reduce Prices

The Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zhemu Soda, has fired the Petrotrade board of directors on charges of poor corporate governance.
The board was dismissed in terms of Section 16 of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act.
Soda told a media conference in Harare on Wednesday that the board, which was appointed in May 2021, was dismissed on the recommendation of an independent investigation. He said:
<blockquote>
However, I appreciate the position taken by some of the members to resign.
This is acceptable to the ministry and a clear indication of the professionalism and humility with which you have handled the matter.
</blockquote>
Soda added that an interim board of directors will be announced soon. | <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/petrotrade-board-dismissed">The Sunday Mail</a>

Soda Fires Petrotrade Board

Energy and Power Development minister, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Soda_Zhemu">Soda Zhemu</a>, says power cuts will persist because Zimbabwe’s electricity is too cheap.
He says this is pushing “unproductive” demand by domestic customers.
Zhemu is supporting power utility ZESA’s request to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) for a review of tariffs. The last review was in January.
The minister says on average, domestic consumers use US$10 of electricity each month, usually paid in the Zimbabwe dollar which has been losing value every week since the start of the year. Zhemu is quoted as saying by the Business Weekly:
<blockquote>
The tariff has been severely eroded and what we now see is the rising demand of unproductive electricity especially by domestic customers.
Until there is restoration of a viable tariff, the situation will remain fragile. 
We need a viable tariff and I understand that ZESA has applied for a tariff review and I want to believe the regulator ZERA is considering the application
</blockquote>
Zimbabweans has been experiencing constant power cuts for the past two years as the country is unable to produce enough electricity to meet demand. 
ZESA, the local power utility, owes regional power companies millions of dollars and, therefore, remains constrained from importing power to cover the gap due to foreign currency shortages.
The minister said electricity had become cheaper than gas, causing gas users to switch back to ZESA, adding to the power demand.
In February, ZESA was producing 1 285MW against the country’s peak demand of 1 700MW.
Regular machinery breakdowns at the coal-fired Hwange Power Station have also added to ZESA’s woes.
The last tariff increase approved by ZERA was 12.3 percent. ZESA officials have publicly declared that they would like to see a tariff increase of higher than 100 percent.
More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/03/14/zhemu-warns-power-outages-will-persist-until-zesa-charges-viable-tariff/">ZimLive</a>

Energy Minister: Power Outages Will Persist Because Zimbabwe's Electricity Is Too Cheap

Energy and Power Development Minister, Zhemu Soda, has said the frequent fuel price increases are a result of international developments which Zimbabwe has no control over.
He said over the past few days, fuel prices had risen significantly on the global market in the wake of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, which had affected supply trends as the former was the second-biggest producer of petroleum products in the world.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) Wednesday <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/03/09/zera-raises-fuel-prices-for-march-2022-again/">announced that the price of diesel had risen</a> by 17 cents and petrol by 16 cents.
This was the second increase inside four days after ZERA on March 5 raised fuel prices to US$1.51 for both diesel and petrol. <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/03/10/responses-to-fuel-prices-hike-zimbabwe-only-country-affected-by-war-in-ukraine/">The hike attracted public outrage.</a>
Minister Soda said the prices at which traders were selling fuel since the last review on March 5, was now below the cost of replenishing stocks. Since the last review, the cost of importing petrol and diesel has gone up by up to 11 per cent.
At US$1,68 per litre now, diesel is 24 cents up from the February price of US$1,44, while petrol is now pegged at US$1,67 per litre.
ZERA also adjusted liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices, raising the retail price to US$2,07 from US$2,03 per kg.
Speaking at a media conference in Harare yesterday, Minister Soda said: 
<blockquote>
The war situation in Ukraine is constraining production and international movement of the commodity. It is a precarious situation; beyond our control.
Zimbabwe imports almost all of its fuel requirements. Any increase in the price of oil on the international market therefore translates into an increase in fuel prices in the country.
Occasioned by the <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/02/24/ukraines-foreign-minister-putin-launched-full-scale-invasion-well-defend-and-win/">conflict between</a> <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/02/24/ukraines-foreign-minister-putin-launched-full-scale-invasion-well-defend-and-win/">Russia and Ukraine</a>, supply of the petroleum products has been constrained, resulting in an increase in the FOB prices.
</blockquote>
He said a rapid increase in oil prices on the international market demanded more frequent price reviews compared to when international prices were relatively stable.
Soda added that petroleum price reviews shall be done on a weekly basis to preserve the price of the products in line with the situation obtaining on the international market.
Asked whether Government could intervene to cushion users of fuel from the hikes, Minister Soda said if the situation continued, Government would find ways to lessen the burden. 
Reacting to the latest round of increases yesterday, parliamentarians expressed concern at recent developments and urged Government to urgently look at ways of easing the situation.
Dzivaresekwa legislator Mr Edwin Mushoriwa said it was time the Government reviewed downwards, the level of taxes and levies imposed on fuel to cushion the public.
Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Clemence Chiduwa said the proposal was welcome but Treasury could not implement it alone.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/govt-explains-frequent-fuel-price-hikes/">The Herald</a>

Government Speaks On Frequent Fuel Price Increases

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