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Local manufacturers are grappling with severe power cuts lasting over 18 hours daily, forcing them to rely on expensive diesel generators, which significantly increases production costs.
Zimbabwe requires about 1,700 megawatts (MW) of electricity during peak hours, but the state-owned power utility, ZESA, was generating just over 800 MW on Wednesday, October 30.
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry (CZI), the country’s largest business lobby group, described the situation as dire. Said the CZI:
<blockquote>
Industry members have reported going for between 12-18 hours without electricity and report that power is being restored between 11 pm and 7 am in the majority of cases.
The absence of a load schedule that is strictly adhered to has exacerbated the effect of the power cuts as affected companies cannot plan employee deployment resulting in redundant working staff for periods when power is unavailable.
The other consequence of unscheduled power cuts is that machinery requires a systemized shutdown process in order to ensure raw materials are fully utilized and the machinery itself is properly shut down.
Sudden power outages result in loss of raw materials and equipment damage.
</blockquote>
Some machinery requires process heating, which involves applying heat during industrial operations. This heating can take 3 to 5 hours before production starts.
Consequently, if electricity is available for 8 hours, effective production time is limited to just 3 to 5 hours. The CZI said:
<blockquote>
However, the electricity bill will reflect usage of 8 hours against actual production of only 3-5 hours. In sectors that heavily rely on electricity such as the plastics and cement industry this can mean failing to achieve the economies of scale necessary to cover production costs.
This situation is particularly severe for companies that do not have dedicated power lines which are normally found in the small to medium sectors.
Companies have sought to mitigate the effects of power outages through the installation of solar energy and battery storage for use at night.
However, this is often very expensive and requires significant funding that many firms struggle to secure.
</blockquote>
Christopher Mugaga, CEO of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/power-crisis-deepens-3/">Business Times</a> that power outages will significantly affect the country’s economic performance in 2024.
He said the ongoing rolling blackouts could reduce the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 0.6 percentage points.
Mugaga operating generators is costly, which companies are using for 14 to 18 hours daily.
This situation not only deters investments but also leads to substantial losses in foreign direct investment (FDI), estimated between $120 million and $150 million annually due to power shortages.
Oswell Binha, chairman of the CEO Africa Roundtable, said power outages can last 18 hours or more, and in some cases, the power quality is so poor that businesses cannot operate even when electricity is available.
He described the situation as critical, with many companies relying on costly generators. This dilemma forces businesses to choose between raising prices or facing severe shortages in stores.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Manufacturers in Zimbabwe are suffering because of long power cuts, lasting over 18 hours every day. This means they have to use expensive diesel generators, making production more costly. The lack of a proper schedule for power cuts is causing problems for companies who can't plan their work properly. Some companies are trying to use solar energy as a solution, but it's very expensive. The power cuts may harm the country's economy and lead to a loss of foreign investments. Overall, the situation is critical for many businesses in Zimbabwe.

Manufacturers Struggle Under Burden of Daily 18-Hour Power Cuts

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of the country’s power utility ZESA Holdings, has called on its customers with solar systems to consider exporting their excess energy into the grid through net metering.
This appeal comes at a time when Zimbabwe is experiencing a serious power crisis, with depressed generation at the country’s major power stations – Kariba and Hwange.
Kariba South Power Station, with an installed capacity of 1,050MW, is currently producing only 292MW due to low water levels at Lake Kariba.
Hwange Power Station’s ageing Units 1 to 6 are generating a fraction of their capacity, leaving the newly commissioned Units 7 and 8 to produce the bulk of the country’s locally-generated electricity.
On July 20th, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), another ZESA Holdings subsidiary, reported that the total generation from Hwange Power Station was 979MW, while Kariba contributed 292MW.
In its statement, ZETDC urged customers with solar systems on their premises to contact its Client Service Centre or dial 704 to get more information on the net metering programme. ZETDC said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe is facing depressed power generation due to low water levels at Kariba Power Station. 
Customers with solar systems are encouraged to export the excess energy into the grid through Net Metering.
Find out more about Net Metering at your nearest ZETDC Client Service Centre or dial 704.
</blockquote>
Net metering is a policy that allows customers who generate their electricity from solar or other renewable energy sources to feed the excess electricity they generate back into the grid and receive credits on their electricity bills.
Here’s how net metering typically works:
<ul>
<li>The customer installs a renewable energy system, such as solar panels, that is connected to the local utility’s electrical grid.</li>
<li>When the customer’s renewable energy system generates more electricity than the customer is using, the excess electricity is sent back into the utility’s grid. Conversely, when the customer’s electricity needs exceed the amount being generated, the customer draws electricity from the grid.</li>
<li>The utility tracks both the electricity the customer draws from the grid and the excess electricity the customer sends back to the grid. The difference between these two amounts is the customer’s “net” electricity usage, which is what the customer is billed for.</li>
<li>For the excess electricity the customer sends to the grid, the utility provides the customer with a credit on their electricity bill, usually at the full retail rate. These credits can then be used to offset the customer’s electricity costs when they are drawing from the grid.</li>
</ul>
The goal of net metering is to support the growth of distributed renewable energy generation and reduce the strain on the electrical grid by empowering customers to generate their own clean electricity.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's power company ZESA is asking people with solar panels to share extra energy with the grid. This is because there is not enough electricity in the country due to low water levels at power stations. Customers can get more information about this program called net metering. Net metering allows people with solar panels to give extra electricity to the grid and get credits on their bill. This helps the environment and the electricity grid. It is important to use renewable energy to help with the power crisis.

ZESA Encourages Customers To Embrace Net Metering

The government says the severe and ongoing power cuts affecting the country are due to depressed power generation at the Hwange power station.
The state-owned power utility, ZESA Holdings, has been implementing lengthy daily blackouts of up to 15 hours in some areas due to the reduced power output from its power stations.
At its peak, Zimbabwe requires at least 2,200 MW of electricity, but the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, is currently generating less than 1,300 MW.
Addressing the media during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Anxious Masuka said the power cuts were a direct result of outages at the Hwange Power Station. He said:
<blockquote>
In the past week or so we have had an increase in power cuts but that is due to depressed generation because of the outages at Hwange. We were promised that two units will be coming on board and the Minister of Energy and Power Development presented today that most likely those two units are already feeding into the grid.
Currently, generation is about 1 400MW per day supplemented by imports. We are currently somewhere between 1 500MW-1 600MW against a maximum demand per day of 1 825MW as presented by the Minister of Energy and Power Development today.
</blockquote>
However, according to statistics released by ZPC on Thursday, July 18, the power generation breakdown was as follows:
<ul>
<li>Hwange Power Station: 979 MW</li>
<li>Kariba Power Station: 292 MW</li>
<li>Independent Power Producers (IPPs): 43 MW</li>
<li>Total power generation: 1,314 MW</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe is facing severe power cuts because the Hwange power station is not generating enough electricity. The country needs 2,200 MW of electricity, but is only getting around 1,300 MW. The power cuts can last up to 15 hours a day. The government says the situation is improving with new units coming online, but the power generation is still not enough to meet the demand. The Hwange Power Station is a major reason for the power shortages. Kariba Power Station and Independent Power Producers are also not generating enough electricity.

Depressed Power Generation Plunges Zimbabwe Into Darkness

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Gloria Magombo (pictured) has said the Government is committed to ensuring that the electricity supply is improved and once it reaches optimum levels, it is sustained.
This comes amid a modest increase in power generation by the power utility over the past few weeks which has resulted in reduced load shedding.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/increased-power-generation-a-giant-leap/">The Herald</a> yesterday, Magombo said one of the major strategies the Government has adopted is to ensure that the power utility, ZESA Holdings, recovers the full cost of electricity supply. She said:
<blockquote>
The most important thing that you have to appreciate as indicated previously is that the Government will continue to engage various partners either in the private sector or our entities to ensure that power supply improves and is sustained and one of the major strategies which we have taken which was through the regulatory issues was to ensure that the utility can recover the full cost of supply.
They need to be empowered such that they are then able to meet the cost of the supply of energy and also that of maintenance and repairs of their equipment.
The equipment is old. It’s a process not an event so they will continue to take the steps to ensure that all the old equipment is taken out slowly and taken for a full overhaul.
We have adopted a strategy that the private sector should be part of and, as a Government, we have seen a high increase in private sector installations of commercial and industrial systems to assist ZESA in meeting its part.
We have seen a huge increase in solar rooftops which are also being connected to the grid, especially during the day and for us, we want to appreciate the private sector’s initiatives to also complement the efforts of the utility to ensure everyone does their part.
</blockquote>
On Thursday, 08 February, the country was generating a total of 1 430MW against a demand of at least 1 800MW.
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating 824MW and 558MW from Hwange and Kariba, respectively, while Independent Power Producers (IPPs) were producing 48MW.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Committed To Ensuring Increased Power Supply - Magombo

Commercial farmers across the country have bemoaned the move by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to disconnect those who have not been paying for electricity consumed.
Unions representing farmers who spoke to <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/farmers-feel-zesa-heat/">Business Times</a> said the ZESA disconnections have effectively hampered prospects of good yields.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe blamed delayed payments from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) for farmers’ failure to pay ZESA on time. Said Makombe:
<blockquote>
ZESA is not consistent. We understand farmers should pay because without payments ZESA would also find it difficult but now to disconnect farmers who have crops in the field does not make sense at all.
They should negotiate because those farmers are going to sell their produce and ZESA will then be paid.
They should make arrangements for those stakeholders, but it would appear some overzealous ZESA officers are acting contrary to arrangements on the ground.
…To disconnect them while the product is in the field is really kind of unproductive.
</blockquote>
The chairperson for the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union in Mazowe, Daniel Chinyemba, said:
<blockquote>
ZESA disconnections in conjunction with ZINWA irrigation pump locking are impacting badly on the Presidential and ARDA Inputs schemes which were launched to ensure food security to the nation.
Most farmers with functional irrigation schemes have not received their payment as yet for their wheat delivered to both GMB and several millers.
Farmers received only the ZWL component paid at the prevailing bank rate of ZWL$6 000 at that time whilst the black market was rating the dollar at ZWL$15 000 causing farmers to incur huge losses.
The ZWL component was supposed to be equivalent to 25% of their wheat sales but ended up being equivalent to less than 7% and the amount was insufficient to clear or even the electricity and ZINWA bills and many other obligations which faced the farmers.
</blockquote>
He said farmers are still waiting for their payments from GMB and millers but service providers are cutting them off.
Chinyemba said due to the El-Nino-induced drought, the crop situation is dire and farmers are in a critical situation as they are failing to irrigate their crops as they are being cut off by ZESA and ZINWA.
A Ministry of Energy and Power Development official told Business Times that consumers should pay for electricity so that the power utility meets its electricity demand and pays import bills. Said the official:
<blockquote>
ZESA is trying to make sure that it meets its obligations that include monthly instalments on repayment of Hwange expansion debt to avoid disconnections which has greatly increased the electricity situation in the country.
</blockquote>
The complaints by farmers come as ZESA has embarked on an aggressive blitz which has no sacred cows. ZESA is reportedly owed US$300 million by customers.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Switches Off Farms... Farmers Blame GMB Payment Delays

Residents of Masvingo, under the Communities in Action Platform (CAP) on Monday staged a street protest over the worsening power cuts, reported <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/watch-masvingo-residents-protest-worsening-load-shedding-say-they-are-tired-of-living-in-darkness/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>.
Most people in Zimbabwe are spending at least 12 hours a day without electricity as generation by the country’s power utility ZESA, continues to plummet.
The protestors, who were holding placards, headed to ZESA headquarters demanding that the power utility provide a clear plan on how it was working to address load shedding. Said CAP:
<blockquote>
The people of Masvingo are tired of living in darkness. These power cuts are not just an inconvenience, they are a threat to our livelihoods and well-being.
CAP urges ZESA to implement effective measures to stabilise the power grid and ensure consistent electricity supply to Masvingo residents.
We call on the government to prioritise renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power as a sustainable solution to Zimbabwe’s energy woes.
</blockquote>
The World Bank recently said power cuts will cost Zimbabwe 6.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) annually.
In its report titled “Electrifying Growth through Reliable and Universal Energy Access, the World Bank said that the 6.1 per cent comprises 2.3 per cent of GDP in generation inefficiencies and excessive network losses and 3.8 per cent of GDP on the downstream costs of unreliable energy.
It said that if Zimbabwe hopes to achieve the high growth rates needed to move toward upper middle-income status by 2030, it will be critical to realise stable and reliable electricity access,
Zimbabwe’s peak electricity demand is projected to grow substantially, from 1 950 MW in 2022 to 5 177 MW by 2030.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"Tired Of Living In Darkness", Masvingo Residents March To ZESA Offices

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) on Thursday, 14 December gave an update on the loss of power in the eastern suburbs of Harare and eastern parts of the country. It reads:
<blockquote>
Eastern Parts of Harare Update
Power supplies to Borrowdale 33KV, Dorset 33KV, and Part of Greystones 33KV substations have been restored while the following substations remain out as we find alternative ways of feeding them; Pomona 33KV, Highlands Park 33KV, Part of Greystones 33kv, Coleford 33KV, and Ruwa 33KV substations.
The affected areas are as follows:
Glenmore, Chishawasha Hills, Umwinsidale. Luna Park, Spring Heights, Arundel Village Park, Crowhill, Art farm, Defence forces University, Domboshava Road, Philadelphia, Hogerthy Hill, Brookhill, New Pomona, Part of Vainona, Kambanji, Helensvale The Grange, Rolf Valley, Part of Greendale, Chisipite, Gletwin, Mandara, Part of Msasa Industry, Ruwa industry, Damofalls, Fairview, Zimre Park, Chipukutu. Elizabeth Park and the surrounding areas.
Manicaland update
Power supplies to Mutare City have been restored while the following areas remain out. The affected areas are as follows:
Mutare Environs, Mkwasine, Middle Sabi, Rusape, Marondera and Bromley.
Efforts are being made to find alternative backfeeds to supply the affected areas while our teams are working on the fallen tower.
As a safety precaution, we urge our valued customers to treat all circuits as live, as power may be restored without notice.
We further advise customers to keep away from fallen power lines and report them to our 24-hour contact centre on 704.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZETDC Issues An Update On Power Outage In Manicaland, Harare

The World Bank has said power cuts cost Zimbabwe a total of 6.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) per year.
In its fourth Zimbabwe Economic Update report released on Wednesday, 13 December, the World Bank said power shortages are hurting the mining sector which consumes a lot of energy. It said:
<blockquote>
World Bank estimates suggest that Zimbabwe’s power shortages cost the country a total of 6.1% of GDP [gross domestic product] per year, comprising 2.3% of GDP in generation inefficiencies and excessive network losses, and 3.8% of GDP on the downstream costs of unreliable energy…
Electricity deficits are particularly damaging for the mining sector, given its highly energy-intensive characteristics, so unreliable and expensive electricity supplies reduce the margins of existing operations and weigh heavily on the feasibility evaluations for expansions and new projects.
</blockquote>
The World Bank said power cuts were also negatively affecting agricultural and agro-processing sectors by undermining irrigation, as well as cold chain and storage facilities.
It said the tourism sector is also affected as hotels, resorts and tourist attractions face disruption of essential services.
All these effects translate into lower economic growth and lower household incomes, the bank said.
The Washington-based lender said for Zimbabwe to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, large investments are required, especially in solar power and grid expansion.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Power Cuts Cost Zimbabwe 6.1% Of GDP - World Bank

Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo has said Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 is expected to start feeding power to the grid any time from today after undergoing Class C Maintenance for the past month.
Class C Maintenance statutory procedure that requires the plant to be taken off the grid after running for a defined period.
Following the shutting down of Unit 7, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), has been implementing load shedding due to reduced power generation.
Responding to questions from journalists at the Dubai Expo Centre where he is attending the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates, Minister Moyo said Unit 8 is also expected to undergo Class C Maintenance. He said:
Unit 7 was taken out for Class C class maintenance for 30 days and those 30 days elapse today (Thursday) and then the process of bringing it back may last one or two more days from today. So we expect Unit 7 to be back to service very soon within a day or two.
Unit 7 carries 305 MW, which is going to be significant in reducing our load-shedding schedule at the moment but going forward in about a week or so, Unit 8 is also going to be taken out for scheduled maintenance for another 30 days.
It’s general maintenance and comes in after certain periods or hours of service.
But then we have other units that have been serviced and carry over 100MW which is going to come to service.
So the taking out of Unit 8 at this time of the year is very strategic because schools and factories are closing and the electricity demand will be coming down.
So we think the effect of taking out Unit 8 is not going to be very adverse and is going to come back in early January after 30 days and that is going to help catch up with demand after schools and industry would have opened.
Moyo urged Zimbabweans to diversify their power and energy sources at the household level and invest in solar energy and gas as the country builds on its capacity to generate power.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Reduced Load Shedding During School Holidays, Festive Season - Minister

The newly-commissioned multi-million-dollar Parliament in Mt Hampden has not been spared rolling power cuts as the structure often relies on generators.
This was revealed by the acting Speaker of the National Assembly on Tuesday when he appealed to members to submit their further suggestions to Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona’s ministerial report in writing as power would switch off anytime. Said the acting Speaker:
<blockquote>
I would like to advise Hon. Members that we are going to lose power anytime from now because we are working on generators.
So, if anybody has got any suggestions that they want to give to the Minister, I would urge you to write them down and then hand them over to the Minister through the Administration of Parliament. I will ask the Minister to adjourn the House for us.
</blockquote>
Parliament adds to the list of other key institutions including clinics, schools, universities that are being affected by the debilitating power cuts.
The Parliament of Zimbabwe moved to the new building in October this year following the handover of the facility by the Chinese Government to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

New Parliament Building Hit By Power Cuts

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) Holdings says the current gap between electricity demand and supply will continue in the medium term.
Zimbabwe requires 1 850 megawatts per day and on Friday the country was generating 1 285 megawatts, with 41 megawatts coming from independent power producers (IPPs), while Kariba and Hwange were producing 570 megawatts and 674 megawatts respectively.
ZESA Executive Chairperson, Sydney Gata told <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/?p=17473">ZBC News</a> that the ongoing load shedding is attributable to subdued generation capacity at Kariba South Hydro Power Station.
Gata revealed that Kariba South hydropower station currently generates 300 megawatts against an installed capacity of 1050 megawatts.
This comes after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) restricted water allocations for power generation due to low water levels in the Kariba Dam. Said Gata:
<blockquote>
Generally, power supply in the short to medium term will continue to be a challenge. The predominant factor here is the hydrology of the Zambezi River which seems to be affected by climate change.
We have 1 050 megawatts of installed capacity at Kariba South. We have been directed to only use 300 megawatts of capacity which means we have lost 750 megawatts which is 50 percent of the dependable capacity of Zimbabwe’s power.
</blockquote>
He said ZESA has come up with a contingency plan that will address the power situation in the medium to long term. Gata said:
<blockquote>
We now have contingency plans made possible, we have already received power station proposals from IPPS who want to finance their own power stations, and coal power base load plants.
They will aggregate that to 1600 megawatts. This is because we now have a cost-reflective tariff. We are also sitting on over 100 licences for small renewable energy IPP projects.
</blockquote>
The construction of two new units at Hwange Power Station (7 and 8) to generate a combined 600 megawatts has not resulted in reduced load shedding.
Unit 7 tripped two weeks before it was due for Class C maintenance resulting in longer power cuts. Unit 8 is set to be taken off the grid soon as it is also due for Class C maintenance.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Boss Says Load Shedding To Continue In The Medium Term

The Minister of Energy and Power Development, <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Edgar_Moyo">Edgar Moyo</a> has said load shedding is set to ease in the coming days with Hwange Power Station’s Unit 7 expected to resume power generation this week.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/load-shedding-to-ease-unit-7-back-online-this-week/">The Sunday News</a> on Saturday, Moyo said the reduction of demand due to the closure of industries and schools for the festive season will also result in reduced load shedding.
Unit 7 tripped two weeks before it was due for Class C maintenance resulting in longer power cuts.
In an effort to reduce the time-out, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) had to combine the inspection and repair works of the actual displacement unit with the Class C maintenance which is set to be completed on Tuesday, 28 November.
Minister Moyo also revealed that Unit 8 would be taken off as it was also due for Class C maintenance. He said:
<blockquote>
Unit 7 will be synchronised this week by Tuesday or Wednesday following the completion of maintenance works.
After a few days, Unit 8 will be taken off the grid for similar maintenance works.
However, we expect to witness reduced demand for electricity as most industries and schools close for the annual holidays.
As such we want to leverage this to maintain this unit but overall, it should translate to eased load shedding.
Actually, one of the units carrying about 80 megawatts came through, another one will be coming through in a day or two’s time with 120MW.
</blockquote>
Speaking to ZTN Prime, recently, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) Board Chairperson David Madzikanda revealed that the power utility ZESA Holdings was financially constrained to import electricity from neighbouring countries. He said:
<blockquote>
Generation at Kariba is very much depleted largely because of water inflows. Secondly, we have not been able to import as much as we should be, because if we were importing, we would be filling in the gap.
The other reason is that the old power stations which are which are stations in Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati are currently not running. We are almost at the stage of shutting them down.
The other problem has obviously been to do with the fact that Unit 7 (at Hwange Power Station). For those reasons, we have shortages of power.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe requires 1 850 megawatts per day and on Friday the country was generating 1 285 megawatts, with 41 megawatts coming from independent power producers (IPPs), while Kariba and Hwange were producing 570 megawatts and 674 megawatts respectively.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Power Station’s Unit 7 Back Online Tuesday, Unit 8 To Be Taken Off For Maintenance

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) says the ongoing power cuts in the country are due to several factors including low water levels at Kariba Dam.
Speaking to ZTN Prime, ZERA Board Chairperson David Madzikanda revealed that the power utility ZESA Holdings has no money to import electricity from neighbouring countries.
This is despite the recent increase in power tariffs by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a ZESA subsidiary, which however is not cost-reflective.
Madzikanda also said the small power stations situated in Harare, Bulawayo, and Munyati are not generating any power at all and are on the verge of being shut down. He said:
<blockquote>
Generation at Kariba is very much depleted largely because of water inflows. Secondly, we have not been able to import as much as we should be, because if we were importing, we would be filling in the gap.
The other reason is that the old power stations which are which are stations in Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati are currently not running. We are almost at the stage of shutting them down.
The other problem has obviously been to do with the fact that Unit 7 (at Hwange Power Station). For those reasons, we have shortages of power.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo said an additional 120 megawatts will be added to the grid this coming week and in addition to the return of Hwange’s Unit 7, load shedding is expected to ease. Said Moyo:
<blockquote>
One of the units carrying about 80MW came through, another one will be coming through in a day or two’s time with 120MW.
Next week, on the 27th or 28th (of November), our Unit 7, which is carrying about 305MW will also be coming on board. That should ease our load-shedding schedule.
</blockquote>
Currently, Zimbabwe requires 1 850MW but on Friday, 24 November 2023, the country was generating 1 285MW, with 41MW coming from IPPs, while Kariba and Hwange were producing 570MW and 674MW, respectively.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZERA Chairperson Speaks On Load Shedding

Several major companies are in negotiations with power utility ZESA Holdings to secure dedicated power lines that are exempt from load shedding in order to keep their production lines operating constantly.
Since the August general elections, electricity consumers have been enduring up to 16 hours of unscheduled power cuts as ZESA struggles to meet electricity demand.
ZESA’s power-generating unit, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) is producing about 1 000 megawatts (MW) against a national demand of 1 850MW.
Delta CEO, Matts Valela told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/firms-engage-zesa/">Business Times</a> that they are willing to pay whatever ZESA charges them, all that they need is s dedicated power line. Said Valela:
<blockquote>
Unavailable electricity is worse than expensive electricity whereby one runs generators to keep producing.
That way we are eating into our revenues hence we need a dedicated power supply at the rate the power utility would want us to pay.
</blockquote>
Valela said solar power is not used in heavy industries because it varies with the sun’s setting. He said:
<blockquote>
There is a need to buy big batteries to avoid power fluctuations therefore we would rather wait and see how the solar technology is progressing then down the road we can use it if we find it viable.
Even industrialised countries do not use solar for industrial use.
</blockquote>
Also speaking to Business Times, Stanley Muchenje, managing director of African Distillers (AfDIS), said:
<blockquote>
We are pushing for a dedicated power line to supply AfDIS, Windmill, Seed Co and Solar Farm among others with uninterrupted power.
We have been engaging the power utility even to help to do repairs but ZESA remains silent.
</blockquote>
Last month, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Gloria Magombo, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/10/21/govt-warns-zimbabweans-to-brace-for-painful-load-shedding/">warned Zimbabweans to prepare for crippling power cuts in the coming few months</a> as the El Nino weather phenomenon is expected to negatively impact rainfall patterns resulting in reduced water inflows at Lake Kariba, the site of the country’s most reliable power plant.
Earlier this month, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Edgar_Moyo">Edgar Moyo</a> said that t<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/11/09/no-end-in-sight-to-load-shedding-minister-moyo/">he country will start experiencing reduced load shedding at the end of November</a> when Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 is back on the national grid.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/11/18/president-mnangagwa-reverses-the-appointment-of-general-valerio-sibanda-to-zanu-pf-politburo/">Pindula News</a>

Companies Engage ZESA Over Dedicated Power Lines

The Minister of Energy and Power Development, <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Edgar_Moyo">Edgar Moyo</a> has said that the country will start experiencing reduced load shedding at the end of November when Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 is back on the national grid.
Last month, Unit 7 was taken off the national grid to undergo Class C Maintenance, a statutory procedure that requires the unit to be taken off the grid after running for a defined period. The unit has a capacity of 300 megawatts.
Responding to lawmakers during a question and answer session on Wednesday, Minister Moyo, however, said it will take time for the country to be able to generate enough electricity to end load shedding. He said:
<blockquote>
We are going to begin to experience reduced load shedding at the end of November when Unit 7 comes on board.
However, on complete load shedding, at the moment I cannot give a timeline because we are working on repowering Units 1 to 6 and each time we are repowering these units, we are going to be taking one unit out at a time. Once it is repaired, we take another unit.
It is going to take a little bit of time, but however, we are banking mainly on independent power producers that I have said are currently projects that are ongoing up to about 600 megawatts.
I cannot give that timetable, but we are working towards that. In terms of power import, we expect to eliminate that by 2025. That is how I can respond.
</blockquote>
Minister Moyo said the country’s electricity shortages have been exacerbated by the depressed generation at the Kariba Power Station due to dwindling water levels in the dam. He said:
<blockquote>
Yes indeed, we are going through a depressed generation in all our power stations in the country at the moment.
The reasons are: firstly, hydrological issues at Kariba Dam where our water levels have since gone so low that we now have a depressed generation at Kariba.
Our normal storing capacity in Kariba is 1050 megawatts but we are currently running between 250 and 300 megawatts and that is already a depressed capacity for generation.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe requires at least 1 800 MW but on Thursday, the country was generating a total of 1 212 MW. Hwange was producing 674 MW, Kariba was generating 500 MW, and 38 MW were coming from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

No End In Sight To Load Shedding - Minister Moyo

Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo said that electricity generation in the country has improved following the completion of maintenance works at Hwange Power Station’s Unit 8 last week.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/improved-power-supply-as-zesa-completes-unit-maintenance/">The Sunday News</a>, Moyo said Hwange Unit 8 was under maintenance works for a number of weeks and this affected the electricity supply leading to power cuts. He said:
<blockquote>
Unit 8 at Hwange Power Station had been off for a while undergoing maintenance works.
It is now back on line and this is why you realise that the electricity supply has improved.
What we also have to understand is that at times we get frequent breakdowns or faults hence it might not be necessarily load-shedding.
Load-shedding occurs when we have a mismatch in the supply of electricity and its demand.
</blockquote>
Moyo said the unavailability of Unit 8 forced the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to increase power generation at Kariba Hydro Power Station. He said:
<blockquote>
Our supply is not always constant; it depends on a lot of variables for example at Kariba Power Station we are now reducing productivity due to hydrology issues where water is now very low.
We are trying to stretch power generation up to the end of the year. However, sometimes if one of the units at Hwange Power Station has a problem, we increase generation at Kariba.
On the other hand, if our units at Hwange are giving us good production, we reduce at Kariba to save water. So it’s never a straight line.
As government however, we remain committed to the provision of uninterrupted power supply in order to be able to drive the industrialisation agenda towards an upper-middle-income economy.
</blockquote>
From 01 September to 22 September, Kariba Power Station was producing up to 925 megawatts, which was significantly more than what Hwange Power Station was generating.
However, from 23 September, power generation at Hwange improved with last Wednesday’s production going up to 1008 megawatts.
On Monday, 02 October, Hwange was generating 970MW, Kariba was producing 611MW, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) were generating 21MW to give a total of 1 602MW.
<img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F7arLh9XoAAAAjR?format=png&amp;name=large"/>
Zimbabwe’s electricity consumption stands at above 1 800 megawatts.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Electricity Supply Improves As ZESA Completes Hwange Unit 8 Maintenance

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>

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 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 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>
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Load Shedding Affecting Voter Registration - ZEC

Energy and Power Development minister, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Soda_Zhemu">Soda Zhemu</a>, has said Zimbabwe’s power situation is set to improve at the end of March when an additional 300 megawatts of power are obtained from the refurbished Hwange Unit 7.
Responding to questions in the National Assembly last Wednesday Minister Zhemu said:
<blockquote>
We are getting a capacity of around 170 megawatts from South Africa and the contract still subsists despite the power supply situation that is in South Africa. We are still able to obtain power from South Africa. As for the mitigation measures that the Government of Zimbabwe has put in place in the event that South Africa one day gets to a situation where they will not be able to give us power, already the expansion of Hwange Power Station will give additional power supply of around 600 megawatts from Unit 7 and 8. I indicated the readiness of Unit 7 from which we will be getting 300 megawatts before end of this month (March) and another unit will be following after a month to give us a total of 600 megawatts being fed into the grid.
</blockquote>
He said there are plans to rehabilitate the existing units at Hwange Power Station, that is, Units 1 to 6 to get them back to the installed capacity of 920 megawatts.
The Hwange units are generating a combined 387 megawatts coming from Hwange Power Station.
Acting Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) Managing Director Engineer Howard Choga is on record as saying the country’s electricity consumption is at 1 850 megawatts.
Analysts say due to constant breakdowns at Zimbabwe’s largest coal-fired power station, which has seen output falling to less than 9 per cent of its designed capacity of 920MW in recent days, there is little hope that units 7 and 8 will change anything.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Energy Minister Says Power Situation To Improve End Of March

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>

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