Zim power woes deepen as Mozambique threatens cut off

Zim power woes deepen as Mozambique threatens cut off

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
06 February 2012

Mozambique has threatened to cut off its power supplies to Zimbabwe, over 
the country’s multimillion dollar debt to its neighbour, which could leave 
Zimbabwe facing even more power problems.

Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Basa power plant supplies Zimbabwe with about 500 
megawatts to cover shortfalls, with the national Zimbabwe Electricity Supply 
Authority (ZESA) battling to generate the growing demand of between 1900 and 
2200 megawatts of power. ZESA is said to be generating only up to 1200 
megawatts currently and has been importing power from neighbouring 
Mozambique and from the DRC to cover the shortfall.

But the national power supplier has been unable to pay its debts and it has 
since been reported that Mozambique was threatening to cut off its supplies.
ZESA spokesman Fullard Gwasira, who was quoted by CAJ news, said demand for 
power was increasing and they were in the process of finding ways of 
boosting power generation.

“ZESA Holdings, through its subsidiary companies the Zimbabwe Power Company 
and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, are 
pursuing various projects and measures to boost the electricity supply 
situation in Zimbabwe to achieve security of power supply,” he said.

The country has been battling intermittent power supply for years, with ZESA 
being just one of many national services that have all but collapsed after 
years of mismanagement under the Mugabe regime.