By 
The government has said that it has directed the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to review the Independent Power Producers licences as some IPPS had failed to deliver as the power situation in the country persists.
The government said that some of the licensed IPP had failed to deliver on their obligations despite being awarded with the licenses five years ago, a situation which has seen the country enduring long hours of load shedding.
Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister Magna Mudyiwa told the senate yesterday that the energy regulatory body is currently seized with the matter and would act on the situation as some IPP were not feeding power to the national grid.
‘’If all IPPs had solar plants as what they had claimed when they applied for licences, we could have over 2 000MW coming from IPPs onto the grid.
We have told ZERA to relook at the licenses they issued. Some were holding on to licenses for more than five years. Others are using the electricity they generate for their own consumption and not directing any to the national grid.’’Mudyiwa said.
Zimbabwe is currently battling to keep the lights with the power utility company,ZESA rolling out 18 hour loadshedding as a result of reduced power generation.
Earlier this week,exiled former government Walter Mzembi chided the government,adding that it was responsible for this energy crisis as it had awarded t the licenses to least deserving individuals.
“Independent Power Producer Licenses awarded to the least deserving highly connected individuals are partly responsible for this energy crisis not just in Zimbabwe but in the Region . They are blackmailers of national interest ! Major Audit required !,’’He said.
The government contracted Intratek ZImbabwe owned by Wicknell Chivhayo for works in the construction of a $200 million solar power plant in Gwanda.
However Chivhayo failed to deliver leading to the matter spilling into the courts.Interestingly,Chivhayo walked away scot free.
Comments