ENERGY and Power Development minister Zhemu Soda finallly showed up in Parliament on Wednesday to issue a ministerial statement on the electricity crisis in the country where he said power imports would be increased, with government having already paid US$5 million.
After the country was plunged into darkness, with 22-hour load-shedding schedules per day introduced, Members of Parliament demanded that Soda issues a ministerial statement in the House, providing solutions to the crisis.
Soda told Parliament that government had come up with measures to mitigate the power crisis in the country.
“Government has increased imports from the region from the initial 260MW to 300MW following payment of US$5 million,” Soda said.
“Currently negotiations are ongoing to increase imports from Electricidade de Mozambique (EDM) by 150MW, and some additional power will be secured through participation on the Southern Africa Power Pool electricity market. This will increase the imports to 500MW.
“There is potential to increase generation capacity at Hwange Power Station to 400MW, small thermals will be expected to contribute a combined total of 45MW and independent power producers will be expected to contribute up to 75MW ... Power generation had been curtailed due to coal unavailability occasioned by delayed payments,” he said.
Soda said US$25 million had been requested as a rescue package to cover import arrears, coal supplies and transport costs for independent power producers. He pleaded with heavy power consumers to reduce consumption by employing more efficient methods of saving power.
“Domestic customers are being engaged to employ energy efficient methods in their operations to conserve power. Zesa is expediting installation of prepaid and smart metres as they play a key role in the management of electricity consumption.”
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On the situation at Kariba Dam, Soda said: “It must, however, be noted that the situation at Kariba will be reviewed by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) in the first quarter of 2023 when the curtailment is expected to be eased. Through the Zambezi River Authority, our government and the Zambian government are currently pursuing the 2 400MW Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme. Feasibility studies were concluded.”
Recently, ZRA warned that water levels in the lake were very low, and ordered the Zimbabwe Power Company to suspend operations at the Kariba South Hydro Power Station.
