Civil Engineer: Contract (Hwange)

Auto Electrician (Hwange)

Attachee: Sales and Marketing (Harare)

Planning Officer (Bulawayo)

Receptionist (Harare)

Semi-Skilled Cook (Chipinge)

IT Officer

Human Resources Officer

Stores Assistant

Project Coordinator

Graduate Trainee: Agronomy (Chisumbanje)

Estimator – Auto Body Centre Harare

Apprenticeship Trainee- Millwright

Graduate Trainee Program (Traineeship)

Students On Attachment (Various Departments)

Information Technology Graduate Trainee (Chisumbanje)

Counselor

Field Officer

Project Driver (Hwange)

Registered General Nurse (RGN) (Harare)

Intensive Care Nurse (ICN) (Harare)

Sales Agents x50

Tobacco Programmes Officer (Harare)

Payroll Clerk (Harare)

Merchant Services Manager (Harare)

Library Technical Assistant

Assistant Binder

Broadcast Technician

Research, Innovation and Industry Linkage Officer (RIILO)

Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) Officer

Procurement Officer

Intellectual Property Management Officer

Research Officers x2

Business Development Officers x2

Innovation Lead (Engineering)

Innovation Lead (Arts & Creative Industries)

Innovation Manager

Public Health Specialist: Prevention, Care & Treatment (Harare)

Driver (Kariba)

Relief Drivers x8

Business Intelligence Analyst (Harare)

Contact Centre Agent-1 (Harare)

Switchboard Operator (OMAO) (Harare)

Procurement Manager (Bulawayo)

Auditor - ICT & Internal Control (Harare)

Legal Officer (Harare)

Auditor (Harare)

Director General (Harare)

Zambia’s power utility, the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) has announced the end of load shedding in the country.
The <a href="https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/zesco-declares-end-to-load-shedding/">Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation</a> (ZNBC) cited ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mapani as saying the country will no longer experience load-shedding.
He said households and companies countrywide will now enjoy 24 hours of power supply without any disruptions.
Mapani said this comes after ZESCO restored and upgraded power generation at various power stations in the country.
Addressing a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday, Mapani said ZESCO has revamped the Victoria Falls power station which is currently feeding about 20 Megawatts into the National Grid.
He said ZESCO has also upgraded power generation at Kafue Gorge Upper and Lower Power Stations by over 150 megawatts.
He also disclosed that ZESCO will soon increase power generation at Lake Kariba from the current 250 megawatts to 350 due to the increase in water levels in the Kariba Dam.
Zambia also plans to begin the importation of about 120 megawatts from Mozambique, Mapani further revealed.
Last month ZESCO <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zambias-power-utility-increases-daily-load-shedding-hours-to-12/">announced increased hours of load shedding to twelve (12) hours daily</a> with effect from 4 January 2023.
ZESCO said the development was in response to a drastic reduction in available water in the Kariba reservoir for electricity generation as well as routine annual maintenance at a smaller power station.

Pindula News

Zambia's Power Utility Declares End To Load Shedding

Funeral parlours have now adopted the use of solar energy and generators as well as approved chemicals to preserve bodies amid prolonged power cuts.
Doves Funeral Group spokesperson Innocent Tshuma told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200006695/funeral-parlours-switch-to-alternative-power-to-stay-in-business">NewsDay</a> that being in the industry for a long time has enabled the company to transition from relying on electricity to the adoption of alternative power sources. Said Tshuma:
<blockquote>
Being in existence for over 120 years has allowed us to prepare adequately to provide for unparalleled seamless service in our industry.
The preparation allows us to operate in any given environment as we have alternative redundancy power sources such as solar and generators in our wide branch network.
We have also adopted the use of chemicals that preserve bodies for a longer time. 
Our state of the art mortuaries allow us to have the country’s largest holding capacity combined with the best industry practices.
Our agile and committed work force use appropriate and approved chemicals which increase preservation.
In turn this provides peace of mind to our clients that are assured that they will get a dignified send off to their loved ones.
</blockquote>
Prolonged power outages in the country have affected most businesses including funeral parlours and hospital mortuaries.

Power Cuts Force Funeral Parlours To Switch To Alternative Power

South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, on Sunday, 22 January, announced that load shedding would be permanently implemented over the next two years.
Eskom chairperson, Mpho Makwana, said power cuts between Stages 2 and 3 are planned for the next two years.
Makwana said this will create “some predictability” and allow the power utility enough room to perform maintenance and increase the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) enough to put an end to load shedding within the next two years. Said Makwana:
<blockquote>
The global average for EAF is about 86%. We’re looking to grow from our current 58% EAF to 70% in the next two years.
</blockquote>
The planned journey to 70% is hoped to take place on the following timeline:
<ul>
<li>60% EAF — end-March 2023</li>
<li>65% EAF — end-March 2024</li>
<li>70% EAF — end-March 2025</li>
</ul>
The outgoing Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter, said the possibility of Stage 8 load shedding is receding but an “inherent risk” remains. He said:
<blockquote>
The possibility of stage 8 load-shedding is receding, which is comforting and positive.
However, there is always an inherent risk, and for that purpose, we have to protect our diesel reserves.
</blockquote>
Eskom Chief Operating Officer, Jan Oberholzer, said 43% of the utility’s electricity-generating units are currently offline due to breakdowns and planned maintenance. | <a href="https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/477261-eskom-announces-permanent-load-shedding.html">My Broadband</a>

SA: Eskom Announces Permanent Load Shedding For Next Two Years

Unscheduled power cuts which worsened towards the end of 2022 and spilled over into 2023 are being addressed, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
Posting on his Twitter page on Tuesday, Mnangagwa said the upgrading and expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station show that the country is on the right path as far as the provision of reliable power supply is concerned. He wrote:
<blockquote>
Power has long been a challenge in Zimbabwe. We are working to provide our country with the best and most reliable power.
The work on the Hwange Thermal Power Station, which I visited last year, shows how far we have come and what is possible in the future. #Vision 2030.
</blockquote>
The newly-built Unit 7 at Hwange Thermal Power Station will be commissioned soon and will add 300MW to the national grid, a government official said recently.
Speaking about the power situation a few days ago, Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda said Unit 7 was expected to be fully operational at the end of December 2022.
He said there were delays in bringing in technicians from the Chinese company ABB to conduct the testing on the protection system following the resurgence of COVID-19 in China.
Soda said the actual unit of coal feed, boiler, turbines and generator are fully functional. He said:
<blockquote>
The testing of the power plant was done and passed.
We are only left with the testing of the protection system that allows for the evacuation of power to the transmission system and a team from China only came into the country in mid-December when we initially expected them in November.
There was also a delay in their understanding of all the systems; we are now expecting them to complete the test in three weeks and to have the plant run by the end of this month.
We don’t expect to take much longer to commission Unit 8 because we have learned many lessons from the current unit.
</blockquote>
Unit 8 is also expected to inject 300MW into the national grid. Zimbabwe is currently generating less than half of its electricity needs.
On Tuesday, 10 January, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating a total of 681MW from its three functional power plants – Munyati (23MW), Kariba (244MW) and Hwange (414MW).

Load Shedding Set To Ease - ED

Mozambique’s Electridade de Moçambique (EDM) plans to increase power exports to other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.
Speaking to the AIM news agency, EDM chairman Marcelino Gildo Alberto said that power exports to the region currently represent 22 per cent of EDM’s annual revenues. <a href="https://macaonews.org/portuguese-speaking-countries/electricidade-de-mocambique-to-export-energy-to-south-africa-zambia-and-zimbabwe/">The Macao News quoted Alberto as saying</a>:
<blockquote>
The southern African region is in crisis. South Africa is short of power, Zimbabwe the same, Zambia too, and recently we learned that Tanzania is starting to have problems.
So, we are going to take advantage of this situation to sell to the regional market, because we have surplus energy.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe and Zambia’s electricity crises are partly attributable to falling water levels at Lake Kariba.
Last year, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) ordered ZESA and ZESCO, Zimbabwe and Zambia’s power utilities respectively, to reduce electricity generation last year.
Zimbabwe operates the Kariba South Bank Power Station, which has an installed capacity of 1 050MW, while Zambia operates the Kariba North Bank Power Station which has an installed capacity of 1 080MW.
On 4 January 2023, Zambia’s State-owned power utility ZESCO Limited increased hours of load shedding to twelve (12) hours daily due to low water levels in the lake.
ZESA was also forced to reduce power generation at Kariba South Power Station towards the end of 2022 due to dwindling water levels, and as of 5 January 2023, the power plant was generating a meagre 260MW.

Mozambican Firm To Export Electricity To Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zambia

Zambia’s State-owned power utility ZESCO Limited has increased hours of load shedding to twelve (12) hours daily with effect from 4 January 2023.
In a statement, ZESCO said the development was in response to a drastic reduction in available water in the Kariba reservoir for electricity generation as well as routine annual maintenance at a smaller power station. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
ZESCO Limited will with effect from Wednesday, 4 January 2023 adjust the hours of load shedding to twelve (12) hours daily, until further notice.
The Corporation’s ability to meet power demand remains constrained by the drastic reduction in available water in the Kariba reservoir for electricity generation at Kariba North Bank Power Station.
At present, the power station’s generating capacity has been reduced from its installed 1080MegaWatts (MW) to below 400MW.
Furthermore, the 150MW generator outage at Maamba Collieries Limited Power Plant for routine annual maintenance from 4 January until 20 January 2023 has exacerbated the situation.
ZESCO deeply regrets the inconvenience caused.
</blockquote>

Zambia's Power Utility Increases Daily Load Shedding Hours to 12

A family in the Mahuhushe area of Lutumba in Beitbridge was robbed at gunpoint on Monday after four assailants pounced while they were checking the fuel level in a generator.
The family lost an assortment of goods and money worth over R13 000 to the suspects.
Zimbabweans are spending more than 15 hours a day without electricity, which in most cases is restored after 11 PM.
Robbers have taken advantage of the darkness caused by unscheduled power cuts to terrorise residents and businesspeople.
Some well-to-do families have resorted to using generators to power their gadgets.
Police in Beitbridge are investigating the robbery incident in the Mahuhushe area and have appealed to anyone with information to contact the nearest police station.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge district, chief superintendent Tichaona Nyongo confirmed the robbery incident.
He said that on the fateful day at around midnight, the four complainants were having a party, playing music and drinking alcoholic beverages at Misheck Chauke’s homestead. Said Chief Supt Nyongo:
<blockquote>
During the process, two of the complainants went to check the fuel level in the generator they were using to power the homestead.
Suddenly the four suspects appeared at the gate armed with a pellet gun and fired two shots in the air ordering everybody to lie down.
For fear for their lives, the victims complied and one of the suspects guarded those who were lying on the ground.
The suspects then searched everyone and ransacked the house taking cell phones and cash all worth R12 100 as well as US$100 cash before leaving
</blockquote>
The matter was later reported at Lutumba Police Station on the same day.
Chief Supt Nyongo said the police recovered two spent cartridges fired from the pellet gun at the scene but none of the complainants was injured. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/armed-robbers-strike-again-in-beitbridge/">The Herald</a>

Load Shedding Exposes Beitbridge Family To Armed Robbers

The Kariba South power station, which is a 1 050MW hydroelectric power plant, has increased its generation capacity to 401 megawatts (MW) from around 200MW in previous weeks.
According to the latest Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) generation statistics published on 20 December 2022, Kariba has now doubled its power output.
The statistics show that Munyati is producing 17MW, Kariba 401MW, and Hwange 429MW; giving a total of 847MW.
However, the two small coal-fired power stations in Harare and Bulawayo were not generating anything.
Zimbabwe has been facing acute power shortages due to reduced power generation at Kariba caused by low water levels.
Kariba Hydro supplies around 70 percent of the country’s electricity.

Kariba Power Station Doubles Electricity Output

The government says it has mobilised US$34 million towards the importation of electricity from regional producers to augment local generation.
Speaking in the National Assembly last week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said US$34 million is being processed to assist the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to import electricity. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>
We have intervened in terms of emergency resources to support both ZETDC and ZPC to the tune of US$34 million to source power from outside.
Unfortunately, that is the best we can do immediately and this is being processed over the next seven days.
</blockquote>
Ncube also said the government will on Monday, 19 December announce independent power producers (IPPs) that will get support to generate power to meet national demand. He said:
<blockquote>
I am happy to report that we have thoroughly concluded the structure and framework of what we call the Government Implementation Agreement to support investment from the Independent Power Producers (IPPS).
It will cover three areas — an appropriate level of tariffs; Government guarantees on the power purchase agreement and also guarantee currency compatibility.
They have asked for these three things and we have put three of the projects on a pilot.
We are now satisfied that we can as Government support GIA to cover those three areas.
Monday next week, we will make a formal announcement and this will go a long way in the medium term in dealing with the power situation.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing one of its worst power crises, with electricity users spending up to 18 hours per day in the dark.
On 19 December 2022, ZPC was generating a total of 672MW from three power stations, Hwange (433), Kariba (221), and Munyati (18). Harare and Bulawayo power stations were not generating anything. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200005218/govt-releases-us34-million-for-electricity-imports">NewsDay</a>

Govt Releases US$34 Million For Power Imports

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda recently issued a ministerial statement on the current electricity crisis. Below is his full ministerial statement to Parliament:
<blockquote>
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for allowing me this opportunity to present a Ministerial Statement on the state of electricity supply that is currently obtaining in the country. Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a depressed power supply situation which was exacerbated by the reduced power production from Kariba Power Station.
Besides the usual challenges of aged equipment at the country’s thermal power stations, climate change effects have hit hard on us at the Kariba South Hydro Power Plant where the dam that supports generation of power has received much reduced water inflows due to the poor 2021-2022 rain season.
The water levels at Kariba Dam have gone down such that power generation at the dam had to be curtailed.
You might be aware Mr. Speaker Sir that on Friday, 25th November this year, the Zambezi River Authority notified the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) that the utility had exhausted its water allocation for 2022 and there was need for the power station to be completely shut down.
The shutdown of the power plant would have had the following impacts: about 70% of the country’s power supply would have been lost as a result of shutting down the power station.
The network stabilization would also have been disturbed which ordinarily would be done through Kariba Power Station.
The Ministry engaged its counterparts in Zambia through meetings which were held at board level and also there was a recommendation from the board to allow the two utilities to engage.
It was through those engagements that the Council of Ministers had an Extra Ordinary Meeting to allow ZPC to continue generating from Kariba Power Station but this time at a reduced capacity of between 250 to 300 megawatts.
This effectively resulted in loss of about 300 megawatts capacity on our grid, increasing our power deficit to over 500 megawatts.
The country’s current available internal generation capacity gets to around 800mgw and the power is contributed as follows: from Hwange there is a generation of up to 400mgw which we are currently obtaining.
Kariba is running between 250mgw and 300mgw and then from the small thermals there is a contribution of 30mgw, which we are currently having.
Independent power producers are contributing a total of 56mgw to make up for the 800mgw which we are generating internally.
We are also getting some imports of electricity from Eskom, which is supplying us with 100mgw and another 50mgw from utilities in Mozambique called HCB and EDM also supplying 50mgw.
ZESCO of Zambia has an agreement with ZESA for the supply of 100mgw and in total, we are getting 300mgw as power imports.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, in order to mitigate the current shortfall that was occasioned mainly by the reduced power generation from Kariba Power Station the Ministry together with ZESA have come up with some measures.
The first one is to increase our imports, which I have already indicated that we are currently receiving 300mgw. We intend to increase by an additional 500mgw which we are targeting to get from Mozambique and from the Southern African Power Pool.
Discussions are currently underway for an additional capacity of 150mgw from Mozambique, particularly from EDM power utility.
We will also get another 50mgw from the participation of ZESA at the Southern Africa Power Pool Electricity Market to give us an additional 200mgw over and above the 300mgw which we are currently importing.
Another measure is to ramp up local generation. There is potential to increase generation at Hwange Power Station and I have already indicated that at the moment, we are getting 400mgw and the intention is to have it staying on the grid and sending that 400mgw.
Then from the small thermal power stations, we are intending to increase production and to obtain a contribution of 45mgw. The independent power producers who are currently connected to the grid would be expected to contribute around 75mgw with special focus on ZEE which is to us a low hanging fruit currently sending out 17mgw but their capacity is 40mgw.
They have depressed power generation as a result of incapacitation, which we are currently working on in terms of the coal which they require for power generation.
To that end, a rescue package has been proposed from the Government to cover for additional imports, coal supply and transport costs which have been an inhibiting factor to have adequate coal supplies at the small thermal power stations.
Discussions are currently underway with Treasury for the release of the rescue package. The other measure is to work on the demand side management.
Intensive power users are being engaged to reduce the load and also employ efficiencies in their operations.
Domestic customers are also encouraged to implement energy conservation measures like switching off switches and also to work on the restricted use of electricity geysers and use of efficient gadgets such as efficient lights, fridges and other appliances.
Various platforms are being used like the radio, social media, television and newspapers for members of the public to be aware of the need to conserve the available electricity.
ZESA is expediting the installation of prepaid and smart meters to improve the management of electricity consumption.
The other measure is to get the excess capacity through the net metering facility which allows customers with excess capacity from their generators like solar systems on rooftops to be connected to the grid.
There are some advantages which can be enjoyed by the producers of electricity themselves. You are aware that a normal solar system should be having some storage facilities but through this facility, you only need to have your solar panels and you will use the grid to bank your electricity which you will be withdrawing during times when you are out of production.
Currently, 5 megawatts of capacity have been connected to the grid and we are targeting an additional 7mgw.
ZESA is working flat out to ensure that these customers with excess capacity of 7mgw are immediately connected to the grid.
There shall also be an immediate review of the hydrological situation at Kariba Power Station. The reduction in the power generation capacity has been occasioned by the low water levels in the Kariba Dam.
The minimum operating level of the dam is 475.5mt above sea level. What it means is that any water that is above 475.5mt becomes the live lake storage which will be used for power generation.
For 2022, we had a total allocation of 45 billion cubic meters provided by ZRA, which was shared by our two utilities, ZESA and ZESCO.
ZESA exhausted our 22.5 billion cubic meters but inflows have just started to collect into the dam and there shall be an immediate review in January 2023. We hope that is going to ease the current load curtailment which is obtaining.
In the medium term, there shall be some interventions especially by way of the rehabilitation of the current Hwange station on the existing units 1 to 6.
Already, work is in progress and the detailed project report giving the scope of works to be done at the power station has been finalised and it was accepted by the project owners which are ZESA Holdings and we are seized with ensuring that my Ministry and the Ministry of Finance engages the Indian Exim Bank to also endorse on the detailed project report so that disbursements can immediately commence for the purposes of the rehabilitation of Hwange Power Station.
The intention is to bring that power station, the current Units 1 – 6 to the installed capacity of 920 mw, which if added to the expansion project which we are expecting to produce 600 mw, the total that will be coming from Hwange Power Station will come to 1520 mw.
In the long term, there shall be massive exploitation of hydro-power potential along the Zambezi River and the immediate one is through Batoka Hydro Electric Scheme which has a potential of producing 2 400 mw and as we speak, a feasibility study was concluded and the environmental impact studies have also been endorsed.
Another measure is on Government giving support to the independent power producers. The focus will be on solar PV generation projects. Currently, a total of 100 licenced projects have been licenced by ZERA.
My Ministry is engaging the Ministry of Finance to help de-risk the independent power producer projects through provision of Government implementation agreements for projects which have been awaiting Government guarantee to reach financial closure.
As we speak, three pilot projects have so far received Government implementation agreements and standard power purchase agreement documents. My Ministry is also finalising on the formulation of competitive procurement framework. This is work in progress and we hope by the first quarter of 2023 this will have been finalised.
I now come to the progress on the Hwange Expansion Project through Unit 7 and 8. The project involved the installation of 2 x 300 mw generation units at Hwange Thermal Power Station.
The project has surpassed 97% completion. The completion of Unit 7 is currently under way with the unit expected to be synchronised to the grid before the end of this month and we will be getting around 300 mw once the commission tests reaches commercial operations but as we commence the synchronisation or commercialisation, we will not immediately get to the 300 mw.
There shall be some connections and disconnections and testing of various performances during this process but this synchronisation will be achieved before end of this month.
Commissioning of Unit 8 will follow immediately after Unit 7 has achieved commercial operation and is expected to take not more than two months after reaching commercial operations of Unit 7.
These interventions will ease the current power supply situation and the Government is seized with the implementation of these measures. I submit.
</blockquote>

FULL TEXT: Minister Of Energy Issues Statement On Power Crisis

Business has warned that the debilitating power crisis that has hit Zimbabwe is crippling the manufacturing sector and exposing consumers to potential price hikes ahead of the festive season.
Firms, as well as households, are experiencing prolonged unscheduled power cuts of up to 18 hours daily resulting in reduced production and the use of expensive diesel generators by some companies.
The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce CEO Christopher Mugaga told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/industry-on-the-brink-2/">Business Times</a> that the current electricity crisis has undermined local industry’s competitiveness. Mugaga said:
<blockquote>
The power crisis is making us lose a competitive edge to imports as our products will become more expensive than before.
If there will be shortages, certainly there will be increased smuggling of cheap imports into the country thereby weakening the industry.
Certainly, those goods with high demand will continue to be needed hence the business will continue to produce it even at high cost and sell it at a high cost.
</blockquote>
ZNCC chief economist Jeff Makiwa said most companies in the mining and manufacturing may close because of the power crisis. He said:
<blockquote>
The deepening energy crisis will further dress down economic growth and most companies, especially within the cold chain, mining, and manufacturing are more likely to close shop if the current energy situation is prolonged.
</blockquote>
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu said:
<blockquote>
The power crisis will affect the local industry in the sense that most businesses will go for cheaper options to meet the festive season demand hence expensive local goods uptake will be reduced.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, economist Eddie Cross recently suggested that there appears to be no plan from the government on the power crisis. Cross said:
<blockquote>
We have a power crisis. I went to see the President in January this year and told him in emphatic terms that if he didn’t address the power situation it was going to stop our economy in its tracks.
He (Mnangagwa) asked me to come back and I found four Ministers waiting for me. The President told them the private sector says we face a power crisis, what is the plan? There was no plan, no plan.
The President turned to (ZESA chairman) Dr Gata and said to him Sydney what are you going to do and he said Mr President, ZESA doesn’t have the financial capacity to fix this problem.
Our utilities are broken and the national utilities do not have the capacity to invest in infrastructure and new capacities. What are we going to do?
</blockquote>

Uncertainty Over Power Crisis Grips Zimbabwe's Industrial Sector

The government says it has secured funding to enable small thermal power stations, that is, Bulawayo, Harare, and Munyati, to generate more electricity to ease the current energy crisis.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Energy and Power Development Minister Soda Zhemu, said:
<blockquote>
Munyati power station has a capacity of 90 megawatts (MW), Bulawayo produces 100MW, and Harare around 200MW.
They have been producing less, and we are working on Bulawayo station to produce around 90 to 100MW, and funding has been secured for that.
</blockquote>
Soda also said the government was considering moving Bulawayo thermal station to Hwange, to avoid future coal supply challenges.
On Wednesday, 14 December 2022, the Zimbabwe Power Company was generating a total of 537MW.
Hwange was generating 366MW, Kariba 171MW, Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati were generating nothing. | <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-govt-revives-small-thermal-power-stations">The Sunday Mail</a>

ZESA Planning To Move Bulawayo Power Station To Hwange

ZANU PF has blamed the late former president Robert Mugabe who was ousted in a military coup in November 2017 for the prolonged power blackouts currently being experienced in Zimbabwe.
Speaking in a recent interview with South African broadcaster eNCA, ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said Mugabe’s mismanagement of the country over the past two decades was to blame for the current energy crisis. He said:
<blockquote>
The power crisis that the country is facing currently is a product of years of neglect within Zimbabwe in particular.
The mismanagement, the arm-fisted mismanagement of the last two decades of Mugabe and his G40s obviously has a negative pull.
It is retarding the speed of recovery, but you can’t doubt that recovery is going on.
</blockquote>
Zimbabweans are spending at least 18 hours a day without electricity and this has severely negatively affected business.
The state-owned power company, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), says low water levels at the Kariba Dam are triggering the country’s current blackouts.
The failure of ageing equipment at its Hwange Thermal Power Stations has also played a part. | <a href="https://www.enca.com/news/zimbabwe-electricity-crisis-zanu-pf-blames-mugabe-energy-crisis">eNCA</a>

ZANU PF Blames Mugabe For Electricity Crisis

The National Chairperson of South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), Samson Gwede Mantashe, has warned that the current crisis at power utility Eskom may cause social unrest in the country.
On Saturday, Eskom escalated its rolling blackouts from Stage Four to Five due to what it called unusually high demand.
The electricity shortages were exacerbated by the breakdown of a generating unit each at Hendrina, Kendal, and Kriel power stations.
Earlier last week, Eskom had pushed up the rolling blackouts to Stage Six.
Mantashe, who is also South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, was speaking at the Matla Coal Multi-purpose Hall outside Kriel in Mpumalanga. He said:
<blockquote>
When you have level six any time up and down the state is going to be overthrown by the people, that’s what it means actually.
l am talking about a revolt. Eskom must do what it should do, technically they have the capacity to do it.
</blockquote>
South Africa, just like its northern neighbour, Zimbabwe, is experiencing debilitating power cuts. | <a href="https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/current-eskom-crisis-may-cause-social-unrest-mantashe/">SABC News</a>

Mantashe Warns Severe Load Shedding May Cause Revolts

CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has said ZANU PF has no intention to solve the current electricity crisis in the country.
Zimbabweans are being forced to endure more than 18 hours a day without electricity after the country’s power utility, ZESA, cut power generation at Kariba Hydro Power Plant due to low dam levels.
A report by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/local-news/article/200004885/bigwigs-shielded-from-power-cutschefs-get-free-solar-systems">The Standard</a> claims that at least 100 top government officials, including service chiefs, are having home solar energy systems installed at their homes at the taxpayers’ expense.
This is being done to cushion the “chefs” and their families from the inconveniences of rolling electricity outages.
Commenting on the report, Mahere said the arrangement shows that the ZANU PF government has no capacity to do anything progressive other than looting national resources. She said:
<blockquote>
They looted funds meant to invest in alternative energy. They’re too incompetent to build power stations or maintain existing infrastructure.
They’ve plunged us into darkness now they expect us to pay for their solar systems. If you aren’t outraged, you’re not paying attention.
This response by ZANU PF tells us they have no intention to solve the ZESA crisis.
They’re buying themselves solar packs yet failing to solve the wider electricity problem.
We can’t have another 5 years of selfishness and incompetence.
ZANU PF continues to spit on the face of the people. The same bigwigs who were given a payout of US$500K a few weeks ago are now getting solar packs paid for by the taxpayer.
This is what happens when the Govt loots but cannot lead.
</blockquote>
According to the report, which cited an unnamed government source, a local company has been contracted to install a 5 kilovolt (Kva) solar system at the home of each beneficiary.
Each kit is reportedly being procured at a cost of US$14 000 yet a full package of the 5 Kva solar system, which consists of accessories and labour, costs between US$3 000 and US$5 000.
The beneficiaries include ministers, senior government officials, commissioners, and army generals.

ZANU PF Has No Intention To Solve Electricity Crisis - Mahere

The government is installing solar panels at the homes of at least 100 top government officials, including service chiefs so that they will not endure the effects of rolling power cuts.
All this is being done at the taxpayers’ expense.
The Standard reported senior government sources as saying a local company (name supplied) has been contracted to install a 5 kilovolt (Kva) solar system at a cost of US$ 14 000 each for top chefs.
The beneficiaries include Cabinet ministers, senior government officials, commissioners, and army generals.
They will get a full package of the 5 Kva solar system, which consists of accessories and labour, and costs between US$3 000 and US$5 000.
However, the government will be paying US$14 000 for the same service — a 200% inflated price, reported The Standard.
Energy ministry permanent secretary Gloria Magombo confirmed that top government officials will get the home solar energy systems when contacted for comment on Saturday. She said:
<blockquote>
This is a project that is being managed by the PSC. As the ministry of Energy and Power Development, we are just providing technical support and consultancy.
As for further details, we are not aware.
However, I understand that government has a solar power plan, which will benefit not only civil servants’ but even ordinary people and other public institutions.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) secretary general Japhet Moyo criticised the government for taking taxpayers’ money to fund the lifestyles of bigwigs. He said:
<blockquote>
The issue of electricity is affecting everyone and all citizens are equal according to the supreme law of the land.
Those who pay the tax are in darkness for over 19 hours while some are cushioned from the pain of the power struggles. Citizens should definitely challenge this.
The senior public servants should bear the same challenges faced by every other citizen.
That will push them as policymakers to address the problem.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions’ Goodwill Taderera said:
<blockquote>
We know nothing about the solar scheme, but based on past experience, those at the top are the ones benefiting while the rest of the civil servants are just being used as a scapegoat.
Government has pledged several non-monetary incentives to its workers, but nothing has been implemented.
The solar installation pledge for civil servants is just empty talk.
Government has no capacity to install solar systems for every civil servant. How can it manage to do so when it has been failing to improve salaries?
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/local-news/article/200004885/bigwigs-shielded-from-power-cutschefs-get-free-solar-systems">The Standard</a>

Top Govt Officials, Army Generals To Get Free Home Solar Energy Systems

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the government will take extraordinary measures in 2023 to address the current energy crisis.
Writing in his weekly opinion article published in The Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said there should be a significant increase in power supply early in the coming year. He wrote:
<blockquote>
Extraordinary measures are needed and will be taken in the coming year. With the US$310 million, we now have to refurbish and replace old Generators 1 to 6 at Hwange, coupled with the coming on stream of Generators 7 and 8, early next year, we should see an appreciable improvement in power supply early in the coming year.
We must now plan for our power generation and supply as if Kariba is discounted from our energy supply matrix, so we have at least 2 000 megawatts from non-hydro power sources.
That way, we weather-proof our energy sector and with it, our whole Economy. I have already instructed Government to remove all and any entry barriers to new investments in the energy sector.
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa said the current power shortages were caused by the success recorded in growing the economy and attracting new investments. He said:
<blockquote>
The rapid growth and expansion in both mining and industry, coupled with new investment projects across sectors, has increased demand for power, and created a clear mismatch between power generation and supply on the one hand, and power demand and distribution on the other.
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa was, however, quick to point out that power generation at the country’s major power plants, Kariba South Power Station and Hwange Thermal Power Station, has plummeted resulting in the current power crisis. He wrote:
<blockquote>
As I write, Kariba’s power generation capacity has drastically fallen from its installed capacity of 1 100 megawatts to a mere 100 megawatts.
Our capacity for thermal power has also fallen due to the aged six generators we developed soon after Independence.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is facing one of its worst power crises and on 9 December 2022, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating a total of 438MW from its five power stations.
Hwange was generating 218MW, Kariba 200, Bulawayo 20, Harare 0MW and Munyati 0MW. | <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/power-shortages-will-end-in-2023-enough-electricity-for-christmas-secured">The Sunday Mail</a>

Extraordinary Measures Needed To Address Electricity Crisis - Mnangagwa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s biographer, Eddie Cross, says he warned him about a power crisis.
Cross claims that in January this year, he told Mnangagwa in a private meeting if the power generation crisis was not addressed, Zimbabwe’s economic prospects would diminish.
Cross, a former member of the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), said later, the same day, Mnangagwa invited him back to his office.
He said this time, in the president’s office, were four ministers from energy, commerce, agriculture, and finance.
They were joined by the chairman of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), the head of the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) boss, according to Cross.
Mnangagwa told them what had been said by Cross and asked what was being done to deal with the power crisis. Said Cross at a business seminar in Harare on Thursday:
<blockquote>
There was no plan. The president turned to Dr [Sidney] Gata [the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority boss] and asked him, ‘Sidney, what are you going to do about it’?
</blockquote>
He added Gata told the president ZESA had no money to fix this problem.
Cross said the current power crisis affecting the SADC region was caused by poor planning by post-colonial governments. He said:
<blockquote>
The electrical power crisis that has enveloped southern Africa has its roots in our post-liberation history. Before that, the utilities created by the states of southern Africa exhibited considerable foresight and planning. 
This was led by the power utility of South Africa which had visionary leadership at the time and like China in the past 50 years, turned their huge coal reserves into a cheap source of electrical energy.
They installed enough power generation capacity to feed their own markets and to supply the deficit in their neighbours,
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is in the grip of a power crisis, with the country generating 500MW against a peak demand of 2 300MW per day.
As a result, Zimbabweans are getting an average of five hours a day of electricity, in most cases late at night or early in the morning. | <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/i-warned-zim-president-about-power-crisis-mnangagwas-biographer-claims-20221209">News24</a>

I Warned Mnangagwa About A Power Crisis But There Was No Plan, Says Cross

The total collapse of Kariba South Power Station’s Unit Number 4 following years of neglect, is partly to blame for the ongoing electricity crisis facing Zimbabwe, it has emerged.
While the official narrative is that Kariba South Power Station is currently generating significantly less power than it was producing a few months ago due to depleted water allocations, Unit 4 had been unofficially decommissioned.
NewZimbabwe.com reported a Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) source as saying that the now dysfunctional unit recently broke down beyond repair due to a number of factors. Said the source:
<blockquote>
Yes, the narrative that ZPC has utilised its 2022 water allocation and was ordered by ZRA to suspend power generation is correct.
It must not be taken to be the sole and isolated reason for plunging the nation into darkness.
The crisis we find ourselves in is a result of decades of poor planning and not heeding advice that saw key machinery going for years without major maintenance.
In instances where new spares were needed, engineers were forced to resort to having them poorly machined in South Africa.
Also, there was a massive exodus of qualified personnel to run these plants due to poor salaries, but ZPC did not heed advice to nip the flight of engineers and other key technical staff in the bud.
Resultantly, the power plant was now in the hands of incompetent and inexperienced employees, thereby compromising efficiency.
The end result was the inevitable total shutdown of Unit Number 4, which is now beyond repair.
We depleted our water allocation ahead of Zambia because our machines were not just obsolete and inefficient, but also neglected, full stop!
</blockquote>
The source further claimed that a forensic audit to establish what transpired in the lead-up to the unit’s total collapse is underway. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/kariba-water-levels-recede-but-power-stations-unit-4-total-collapse-has-worsened-already-dire-electricity-situation-official/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Kariba Power Station’s Unit 4 Broke Down Beyond Repair | Reports

ZESA Holdings says load shedding will ease considerably in the coming weeks with Zimbabwe soon to get up to 500MW of electricity from Zambia and Mozambique, while Hwange Power Station’s Unit 7 should be feeding 300MW into the national grid before month end.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/major-boost-to-electricity-situation-as-500mw-lined-up-from-zambia-mozambique/">The Herald</a>, ZESA Holdings executive chairman Sydney Gata said that the power utility expects to import 250MW from Zambia and another 250MW from Mozambique. Said Gata:
<blockquote>
As for the current load shedding, there is a relief that is coming. We ran around and apart from getting a bit more from Kariba, we will be getting a bit more from Zambia and Mozambique.
From Zambia, we are getting 100MW and they are looking for another 50MW for us there is also a member of the Intensive Energy Users Group who is also looking for another 100MW. So we may get as much as 250MW from Zambia.
Mozambique, I was there recently and we agreed that they will run around and increase from the 60MW they have been giving us, to 100MW immediately, and there is another 150MW which could be coming from Monday next week. So Mozambique should give us 250MW maximum.
</blockquote>
Gata said if all goes according to plan, Hwange’s Unit 7 is expected to start feeding electricity into the grid before month’s end. He said:
<blockquote>
The unit itself, in terms of operating, is actually ready to generate. However, there was a delay in the equipment required to connect it to the grid.
So far we expect that it could be around the 20th of this month. It could be later, it could be earlier, but thereabout and surely by Christmas, Unit 7 should be in service, barring unforeseen situations.
</blockquote>
Unit 7 has the capacity to generate 300MW, while Unit 8 will also add another 300MW to the main grid when completed in the first quarter of 2023.

ZESA Says Electricity Situation Will Improve Soon

Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti said that the current electricity crisis has exposed ZANU PF’s ineptitude in dealing with the challenges facing the country.
Zimbabweans are enduring at least 18 hours without electricity a day, with little hope that the problem will be fixed anytime soon.
Biti said the power shortages can be addressed through imports, the issuance of licences to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and fast-tracking the commissioning of new Units at Hwange Thermal Power Station, among other measures. Said Biti:
<blockquote>
The power situation has exposed the cluelessness and vacuousness of the regime.
That the regime can’t find an urgent solution to such an obvious crisis is beyond belief.
1) Increase urgent power imports, 2)Issue urgent IPP licenses, 3) Fast trek Hwange Units 7 and 8, 4) Invest in renewable energy particularly Solar and the Manicaland hydro, 5) Work on fresh power generation particularly Batoka, 6) Work on transmission, 7) Deal with Demand Side Management, 8) Converge and professionalize ZESA units, 9) Attend to rural electrification.
</blockquote>
Biti said the 2023 national budget growth projection of 3.8% is not attainable as it is based on an assumption of normal energy supply.
He also criticised President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s plan to disconnect households from the national electricity grid in response to the energy crisis.
Writing in his weekly opinion article published in The Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said:
<blockquote>
We have a blueprint that targets households to run on solar, so we remove them from the national grid.
In government, we are already incorporating solar systems in packages that public servants enjoy.
Such employer-assisted interventions, across the sectors, will see us speedily migrating more households to solar.
</blockquote>

Biti's Nine-point Plan To Deal With Energy Crisis

Tobacco farmers have pleaded with the government for help to alleviate the negative impacts of the current electricity crisis on farming.
US$300 million of irrigated tobacco crop is reportedly under threat as load shedding is affecting the curing of the golden leaf.
In a letter dated 5 December 2022, the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) pleaded with the Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Anxious Masuka to intervene. Part of the letter reads:
<blockquote>
There is an immediate requirement for tobacco farmers to access concessionary-priced diesel fuel for generator use either through their contractor or through a government facility.
Listings of affected farmers and requirements can be accessed through associations, unions, contractors and TIMB.
For effective curing and handling of this crop, 24 hours of continuous power is required on tobacco farms.
Currently, farms are getting on average seven hours of power per day, barring any faults, which is 30% of the requirements from the utility.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is experiencing power cuts of up to 18 hours a day due to reduced generation at Kariba caused by low water levels and recurrent breakdowns at Hwange.
As of 8 December, 2022, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating 506MW from its 5 power stations.
Hwange was generating 296MW, Kariba 200MW, Bulawayo 10MW, while Munyati and Harare were generating nothing. | <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/power-cuts-shocker/">Business Times</a>

Load Shedding Disrupts Tobacco Curing

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has outlined his party’s plans to address the country’s electricity crisis.
Zimbabweans are currently experiencing power cuts lasting up to at least 18 hours a day as the power utility, ZESA Holdings, is generating about a quarter of the country’s electricity needs.
In a Twitter thread, Chamisa said a CCC government will expand generation by modernising the country’s existing power plants through life extension technologies that are smart and green by 2027. Wrote Chamisa:
<blockquote>
1/OUR NEW GREAT ZIMBABWE ENERGY PLAN Zimbabwe currently has a national electrification rate of 42%. While electricity has reached 83% of urban households, rural electrification is still around 13% as per the National Energy Policy of 2012 (as per the last updated stats)
2/Our estimated electricity demand is 2300 MW against an actual generation of below 1100 MW. The current output of 1100 MW is not sufficient to guarantee support for a rapid economic growth programme.
3/The supplies are fraught with persistent outages. In addition, there are significant electricity losses as a consequence of aged and inefficient transmission and distribution networks.
4/The country has an installed capacity of about 2,300 MW, with Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a generation subsidiary of ZESA, owning around 95% of this. More than 50% of electricity is generated from hydropower power while the remainder is from thermal power plants.
5/Bagasse, mini-hydropower and small-sized grid-connected solar systems have an installed capacity of a paltry figure of less than 150MW. Against this background, the actual power generation capacity in 2022 averaged below 1100MW against a peak demand of about 1800MW.
6/The limited generation capacity is attributed to human capital capacity &amp; quality of mgmt due to corruption &amp; cronyism at our utilities, poor financing, water wastage &amp; availability at Kariba, old equipment which needs rehabilitation &amp; limited coal availability &amp; clean energy issues.
7/A New Great Zimbabwe economy needs to be driven by clean, and sustainable energy sources that will achieve net zero by 2050 &amp;also ensure a decarbonised economy. The Citizens gvt will expand installed generation to at least 4,2 MW by 2029 which we estimate will cost $4.33 billion.
8/Current energy policies overlook the need for improving the share of renewable energy in the overall energy mix. It’s just not prudent to use a hydropower station like Kariba which was designed mainly for peaking power, as a base load power station.
9/Zimbabwe should focus on driving the cost-effective implementation of sustainable energy sources, social upliftment through community involvement, gender equality and employment generation.
10/The renewable energy sector in Zimbabwe should consist of solar, hydro, wind, geothermal and biomass (which includes bagasse (sugarcane based), biogas, forestry and sawmill waste) all of which have barely been fully exploited.
11/Zimbabwe has vast renewable energy resources that are presently underutilised. Our Citizens’ Government will prioritise a clean energy investment that will make power shortages, load shedding and the current dark age a thing of the past.
12/We will lead in the setting of targets for renewable energy based on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) interventions submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
13/demand-supply scenario, grid absorption capacity, and the economic viability of our utilities to pay for renewable energy electricity from independent power producers (IPPs).
14/We will promote sustainable Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) for small hydropower, biomass, and geothermal projects as well as corruption-free competitive bidding for solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP), wind and other renewable energy sources.
15/Off-grid energy will be promoted and incentivised to make them a viable option for our Citizens’ government 100% electrification of Zimbabwe by 2035.
16/We will address the socio-economic areas in our energy policies to include affordability &amp;accessibility of energy from renewable sources, employment opportunities, diversity &amp; inclusion especially gender equity, and food security, and improved access to basic facilities.
16/Our FIVE POINT PLAN for Energy is informed by the suffering of our citizens due to the lack of sufficient energy to carry on with our economic activities. We plan . a)to pursue sustainable energy for all and to mobilize action from all sectors of society in support of
17/three interlinked objectives to be achieved by 2027: providing universal access to modern energy services; doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix in Zimbabwe.
18/b) to expand generation by modernising our existing power plants through life extension technologies that are smart and green by 2027.
19/c) to build an energy efficiency revolution that creates an energy surplus by encouraging demand side management, energy efficiency and optimal use of our water resources in our hydropower generation systems dispatch and operations.
20/d) to provide enough project financing and investment for power generation, transmission , distribution and supply systems with an emphasis on rural development and urbanization as well as install ethical, competent and professional human capital to run our utilities.
21/e)to source through the private sector the sum of USD 300 million dollars that is required to modernise our grid. Zimbabwe’s transmission infrastructure is archaic. We will allow private players in the form of independent power producers (IPPs).
22/We will implement sustainable energy development based on scientific &amp;engineering studies that will continuously launch projects for solar power, energy Internet, carbon Capture, utilisation &amp; storage (CCUS), nuclear, energy storage, hydrogen &amp;total electrification of our country.
23/Decades of lack of investment in energy infrastructure, visionary leadership, planning and corruption now haunting us. Averting a problem is always cheaper than treating it. We have the answers! We will make Our ZIMBABWE New and Great! We’re ready. #RegisterToVoteZW
</blockquote>

Chamisa Outlines "New Great Zimbabwe Energy Plan" To End Electricity Crisis

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Gloria Magombo on Tuesday said the commissioning of two new units at Hwange Thermal Power Station will take time.
These two new units will add 600MW to the national grid, but it may not happen soon.
Addressing the media after a Cabinet meeting in Harare yesterday, Magombo said:
<blockquote>
Commissioning of a plant is not an event, it’s a process. When we talk about commissioning Hwange 7, each part has to be commissioned independently and certified as working 100%, before they move on to the next one.
If there’s something not working properly, they have to stop, look at it, and correct it. As they do that, they look at the critical path in terms of when they can put that unit on the grid.
</blockquote>
She said the other part of commissioning is the construction of transmission power lines including a 400km line from Hwange to Bulawayo’s Insukamini sub-station.
Watch the video below for more:
<div>
<video controls="controls" height="356" preload="metadata" width="640"><a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Gloria-Magombo.mp4">https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Gloria-Magombo.mp4</a></video></div>
Meanwhile, On Tuesday, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating only 494MW from its five power stations located in Bulawayo, Munyati, Harare, Hwange and Kariba.
On the same day, Zimbabwe was importing 50MW from Mozambique’s HCB, up to 169MW from ESKOM, 100MW from Zambia’s ZESCO, and 10MW from EDM in Mozambique.
Magombo said the country has agreed with EDM to increase supplies to 50MW, while there is an agreement for a further 150MW from Mozambique. | <a href="https://newzwire.live/govts-latest-energy-update-there-is-bad-news-and-slightly-less-bad-news/">newZWire</a>

"Commissioning Of Hwange Units 7 & 8 Will Take Time"

The government has put measures in place to ensure that there is continued power generation at various power stations across the country.
This was said by the secretary for Energy and Power Development Gloria Magombo while speaking to the media after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. She said:
<blockquote>
Various measures were reported to Cabinet which have been put in place to ensure that there is a continued power generation and supply demand-gap which has increased due to the loss of the 300MW.
One of the first strategies is to ensure that the current units which are generating in Hwange, continue to be maintained and optimised to ensure that they produce an average of 400MW to ensure energy supply security.
Over and above in the long term, over US$400 million was secured to improve capacity in Bulawayo and Hwange.
At Hwange power station, the life-extension project has started with Unit 5 which has been out due to challenges with its turbines earlier this year.
We have also been ramping up production for the small thermals in Bulawayo, Harare and Munyati to push them to 45MW.
Coal supplies are currently being expedited and there is a train with over 30 wagons to power stations to ensure that there is more production.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing an electricity crisis caused by frequent breakdowns at Hwange Thermal Power Station and water shortages in Lake Kariba which supplies water for the Kariba Hydropower station.
Meanwhile, Magombo said the new 300MW Hwange Unit 7 is expected to be synchronised to the system by end of this month. She said:
<blockquote>
Unit 8 is also being developed in parallel and we expect that it will be commissioned during the first quarter of 2023.
</blockquote>
She said an additional coal plant at Hwange going through maintenance should be running soon, thus adding an additional 15 MW to the national grid.
According to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) website, Zimbabwe was generating 494MW on Tuesday, 6 December 2022, against a peak demand of 2 200MW. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/measures-taken-to-ease-power-shortage/">The Herald</a>

We Have Taken Measures To Ease Power Shortage - Govt

Zimbabwe’s permanent secretary of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana has said the government is working to resolve the power crisis which he said is “causing distress to the citizenry and business.”
The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZESA">Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)</a> rolled out a crippling load-shedding schedule last week after being directed by the Zambezi River Authority <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/severe-load-shedding-looms-as-zra-tells-zesa-to-shut-down-kariba-power-station/">to reduce power generation</a> at <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kariba_South_Power_Station">Kariba South Hydropower Station</a> to allow the water body to refill.
In some parts of the country, load-shedding goes for 22 hours while it is effective, uninterrupted, from 5 am to 11 pm in some parts of Harare, the capital. In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Mangwana thanked the citizenry for its patience. He said:
<blockquote>
The power cuts are causing distress, inconvenience and cost to the citizenry and business. This is regrettable. The challenge is affecting part of our region. Govt is seized with implementing immediate mitigatory measures to bring normalcy. We thank you for your patience.
</blockquote>
His remarks are in resonance with those of President Emmerson Mnangagwa who wrote in his weekly column in The Sunday Mail that the <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/the-power-crisis-makes-us-unattractive-to-investments-president-mnangagwa/">power cuts were making Zimbabwe unattractive to potential investors</a>.
Businesses say they have resorted to using generators and solar systems, an alternative that is expensive and is likely to trigger a sharp rise in the prices of commodities.
Zimbabwe’s imports of 540MW from neighbouring countries are not enough to cover the power deficit.
An update by the Zimbabwe Power Company on 6 December 2022 (today) suggests that Zimbabwe is generating a total of 494MW. In total, Zimbabwe has 1034 MW against a peak demand of 2 200 MW.
ZESA heavily relies on the Kariba Hydropower Station as the ageing <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Hwange_Power_Station">Hwange Thermal Power Station</a> is always breaking down.
There have been efforts to refurbish the Hwange plant and introduce new ones but there are no dividends to pick from the initiatives, yet.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

"Power Cuts Are Causing Distress To The Citizenry And Business," - Mangwana

Zimbabwe has no immediate funding to ease the current electricity crisis, Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda revealed on Friday.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Soda admitted that the country is facing a power crisis. He said:
<blockquote>
The government is making an intervention. This is a crisis situation and we hope through that intervention, funding will be available to apply for the additional capacity that we are looking forward to getting from our neighbours.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s hopes of importing additional electricity from Zambia were dampened with the neighbouring country set to commence a six-hour daily load-shedding regime from 15 December.
On Friday, Zambia’s Energy minister Peter Kapala issued a ministerial statement in Parliament saying the country’s power utility, ZESCO, will implement a load management regime aimed at rationing power generation at the Kariba Complex to avoid a complete shutdown.
Meanwhile, Soda said Zimbabwe is importing a combined 250 megawatts (MW) from South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique.
He said additional negotiations are ongoing, with 150MW expected from Mozambique.
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages the Zambezi River on behalf of Zimbabwe and Zambia cut ZESA’s power generation capacity to 300MW down from 600MW, while ZESCO will reduce generation to a maximum of 800 megawatts until further review.
Zhemu urged consumers to reduce their load by employing energy conservation and efficiency measures. He said:
<blockquote>
The ministry urges all consumers to reduce load by employing energy conservation and efficiency measures. Lights must be switched off in all offices at night and other measures like rightsizing of equipment, use of energy savers.
</blockquote>
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Kurai Matsheza said a failure to address the power crisis will be a huge blow to manufacturers during the busiest season of the year. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004481/no-funding-for-power-imports-minister">NewsDay</a>

No Immediate Funding For Power Imports - Soda

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda has said the Kariba Hydro Power Station will not shut down completely but will continue to generate about 300 megawatts (MW) daily pending a review of the water situation in Lake Kariba next year.
Addressing the media at his offices in Harare late Friday afternoon, Soda said that the government has come up with immediate measures to deal with the current power challenges. He said:
<blockquote>
ZPC had indeed exhausted its water allocation for the year 2022. However, Kariba Power Station will not shut down completely, rather it will continue to generate but at a reduced capacity of up to 300 megawatts daily average pending a review of the water situation at the dam in January 2023.
This means that the power station has the latitude to vary its capacity as long as it maintains the required average capacity.
… In the immediate term, Government has come up with measures through its utility ZESA and IPPs to increase imports from the region.
Bilaterally, ZESA is currently negotiating for additional imports from the current suppliers.
More power will also be secured through the SAPP (Southern African Power Pool) market.
ZPC will ramp up production at Hwange Power Station to average 400MW and small thermals are expected to produce a combined total of 45MW.
We will give support to all IPPs to enable them to produce at maximum capacity.
</blockquote>
Soda said Unit 7 is undergoing commissioning and will start feeding power into the grid later this month.
The commissioning of Unit 8 will follow within the first three months of next year, he said.
He said several companies will soon be feeding various amounts of power into the national grid. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
Through Statutory Instrument 38 of 2022, net-metering regulations were amended to exempt from licensing a capacity of up to 5MW.
This incentive is expected to result in increased internal generation as companies set up their solar generation systems.
Caledonia Mine (12 MW), Richo Solar (1,3MW) and Guruve (1,2MW) will soon be feeding into the national grid.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-kariba-power-station-is-not-shutting-down">The Sunday Mail</a>

Kariba Power Station Is Not Shutting Down Completely - Minister

Zambia will start load shedding from 15 December in response to a huge drop in water levels in Lake Kariba, which supply water for power generation.
Peter Kapala, Zambia’s energy minister, on Friday, told Parliament that water in the lake has dropped to 4.1 percent of usable storage for the Kariba North Bank Power Station in Zambia and the Kariba South Bank on the Zimbabwean side of the lake. He said:
<blockquote>
The low water level situation in Lake Kariba threatens the power generation from both the Kariba North Bank Hydropower station and Kariba South Bank Hydropower station.
… We anticipate that this will translate into a load management regime starting on the 15th of December, 2022 of up to six hours daily.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe and Zambia jointly own the Kariba Dam and it is the main source of electricity generation for both countries.
To avoid a complete shutdown of the two power stations, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has told Zimbabwe to cut generation to a maximum of 300 megawatts and Zambia to a maximum of 800 megawatts, said Kapala.
The Kariba North Bank Power Station in Zambia has an installed capacity of 1080 megawatts while the Kariba South Bank Power station in Zimbabwe has a capacity of 1050 megawatts.
Zimbabwe is already experiencing power cuts lasting for more than 15 hours per day in most parts of the country. | <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/2/zambia-plans-power-cuts-dulow-levels">Al Jazeera</a>

Zambia To Commence Electricity Load Shedding On 15 December

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) says it is engaging the Government to find solutions to the current electricity crisis which threatens industrial productivity.
Domestic and industrial consumers are now going for long hours without electricity outside the normal load-shedding periods.
Last week, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages the Kariba Dam on behalf of Zimbabwe and Zambia, ordered the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, from generating electricity at Kariba Dam until at least January next year due to low water levels.
CZI president Kurai Matsheza said local industry was caught “flat-footed,” by the move by ZRA to order the cessation of power generation at Kariba South Power Station. He said:
<blockquote>
It’s a situation we are engaging the authorities on, just to find a common way of coming out of this situation, but unfortunately, there are no quick answers, so we just have to keep negotiating.
We also encourage the Government to speed up whatever accommodation we can have with the Zambian authorities, for example, to be allowed to use their portion of the water in the Zambezi to continue running on our side, or alternatively, they can sell to us the electricity they would have generated.
</blockquote>
The Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zhemu Soda, is expected to give a detailed statement on the issue of Zimbabwe’s energy and power supply soon, a Cabinet spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a new unit at the Hwange Power Station was successfully turned on for the first time last week, raising hopes that the power challenges will soon be alleviated.
The unit is expected to start supplying 300 megawatts to the national grid before the end of this year. | <a href="https://newziana.co.zw/2022/11/30/local-industry-engaging-govt-on-power-challenges/">New Ziana</a>

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