Power Imports Critical To Stabiliser Power Supply In Zimbabwe

The government has said that it was working on a raft of measures to stabilise power supply in the country.

Many households are enduring loadshedding of up 16 hours as the power utility struggles to keep the lights on.

Speaking during the post cabinet briefing,energy ministry secretary Gloria Magombo said that the government would increase power imports to augment power shortages in the country.

“Additional imports will be critical to support the existing imports which we are getting from South Africa’s Eskom, EDM and HCB of Mozambique and Zambia.

“Zambia and South Africa will continue giving us up to 100 MW each whilst HCB is giving us 50 MW and EDM will be ramping up from the current 10 MW to 50 MW. We have an agreement to increase further (with EDM) by an additional 150 MW”,Magombo said.

The power crisis in the country is attributed to reduced power generation at Kariba South Power Station due to receding water levels in Lake Kariba.

The situation at Kariba South Power Station is expected to normalise in the first quarter of 2023 when water levels on the lake improves.

At present,the government is pinning it’s hopes on the Commissioning of the Unit 7 at Hwange Power station,which is expected to come online before Christmas.