The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
Power supplies for domestic and industrial users are set to significantly improve after Government inked a deal with Zambia through which the latter would provide 330 megawatts (MW), of which 100MW would be available “any time from now”.
Zambia commissioned the first unit of the US$2 billion 750MW Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower station in July this year.
Zesa Holdings executive chair Dr Sydney Gata said the injection of additional power from the new deal, including the envisaged 180MW from a deal that is currently being pursued with Mozambique, “should end the level of load-shedding we are suffering at the moment”.
“I am not saying we are ending load-shedding, but from January onwards, you will see a real drastic reduction in load-shedding,” he said.
“Last week – Monday last week – I signed a contract with Zambia to be assisted with 100MW, which should start any time now and also another 230 MW from January onwards. That is a huge contribution . . . that’s 330MW from Zesco.” Zambia is currently commissioning Kafue Lower, which is 750MW, and they have got spare to assist us until we are right. That is going to drastically reduce load-shedding.”
Zimbabwe has a shortfall of 150MW as it is generating 1 500MW from its power stations compared to demand of 1 750MW.
Supplies from Zambia and Mozambique are expected to provide relief until the 600MW from new units – Unit 7 and Unit 8 – at Hwange Power Station kick in.
Unit 7 is 77 percent complete and will be commissioned in September 2022, while Unit 8 will start generating power three months later.
Overall, new power generating projects, including from IPPs (independent power producers), would likely make Zimbabwe a net power exporter.
