GOVERNMENT has turned to regional power utilities to ease power outages that are now lasting up to 20 hours per day.
Zesa Holdings is implementing higher levels of load shedding owing to depressed generation due to planned repairs and low water levels at Zimbabwe's main hydroelectricity plant in Kariba.
Data from the Zambezi River Authority showed that the usable live storage volume was 7,62 billion cubic metres (BCM) on Thursday last week from 20,18 BCM during the same period last year.
As of yesterday, Kariba was generating 292MW against its installed capacity of 1 050MW.
In total, Zimbabwe was generating 1 126MW yesterday with Hwange providing 834MW while power plants in Bulawayo, Harare and Munyati were producing zero.
Energy and Power Development minister Edgar Moyo said government was forced to turn to South Africa and Mozambique for an additional 200MW to bridge the supply gap.
“We have recently signed a power purchase agreement with Eskom, which was done in April and that goes for a year,” Moyo said in a ministerial statement in Parliament last week.
“An average of 200MW has been secured from import arrangements with Eskom, Eletricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) to help cover the electricity shortfall.
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“So, we have a firm supply of 50 megawatts from Eskom and then 50 megawatts variable supply, meaning that the other 50 is supplied as and when it is available but then the 50 megawatt supply is firm because it is contractual.
“We also have imports from EDM Mozambique which gives us 50 megawatts. There is also HCB of Mozambique giving us 50 megawatts, all these contracts were signed for a year and were resuscitated this past April; they will subsist until April 2025.”
He said small hydroelectric power plants had been affected by low dam levels.
“Kariba Power Station remains constrained due to low water levels. As a result, the Zambezi River Authority is implementing a tight water allocation schedule that has seen Zimbabwe and Zambia reducing their generation,” Moyo said.
He said Zesa had ring-fenced 100MW for winter wheat to cater for food security.
Zimbabwe’s peak demand for electricity is 1 850MW.
According to the government, the country’s energy needs by 2025 will be around 3 500MW.
The only areas enjoying unlimited access to electricity are those on the same grid as VIP residences, major hospitals and broadcasters.
