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

Pindula News

Kariba Power Station Doubles Electricity Output

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

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

The Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union executive Director Paul Zakariya, has urged farmers to not worry about an impending dry spell as yet, H Metro reports.
Mr Zakariya encouraged farmers to be patient saying these were the early days and the country has just received the early rains so it is too early to conclude that there will be a dry spell. Said Zakariya:
<blockquote>Most farmers completed the sowing process few weeks ago but since then we haven’t received any rains yet, however this mustn’t worry them because it is too early, we have just received the first rains. We encourage people not to panic because according to MET department we are going to receive rains by the end of this week</blockquote>
Zimbabwe experienced a drought in 2019 that left half the country in need of food aid and <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kariba">Kariba</a> HEP the country’s largest power plant in a power generation fix.
More: <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/farmers-mustnt-panic-zfu/">H Metro</a>

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