The electricity crisis in Zimbabwe resulting in power cuts of up to 18 hours across the country is set to improve in the next six to eight months according to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Engineer Gloria Magombo.
Zimbabwe has been experiencing electricity shortage owing to low water levels at Lake Kariba and ageing equipment at Hwange Thermal Power Station.
This has resulted in low production of power in the country, with the country depending on the Hwange Thermal Station which in turn is constantly breaking down due to the archaic equipment and does not meet the 1600MW daily power demand.
Also contributing to the shortages is a significant drop in power imports largely a result of the country’s failure to service debts owed to South Africa’s power utility Eskom and Mozambique’s Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa.
The continuous power cuts have largely affected households and business operations in the country, with most companies attributing the low output in their operations during the course of the year to the shortage of the commodity.
Speaking during a post budget consultation today, the Permanent Secretary said that if the country manages to get between 500 and 600MW from the Kariba power station and it also manages to restore Unit 4 and 6 at the Hwange Thermal station then power supply will stabilise in the next six months.
She also said that the government is looking into increasing imports and the adoption of renewal energy such as solar as the country is looking towards the use of sustainable energy.
In his 2020 National Budget Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube allocated $8.4 million for Hwange Thermal Power Station rehabilitation.- Equity Axis News
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