Darkness looms for Zimbabwe
05 March, 2011 19:11
Regional power utilities supplying power to Zimbabwe might pull the plug if
its government fails to settle debts owed by the country’s power utility.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) evidently owes regional
suppliers more than US$100-million in accumulated debt.
Yet despite facing electricity supply problems, Zimbabwe is exporting power
to Namibia at below cost.
Zimbabwe generates about 1400MW of a required 2000MW, and imports about
300MW from Zambia and Mozambique.
However, Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma says Zesa
exports about 150MW to Namibia.
Mangoma said Zambia and Mozambique were “willing to export more power if we
pay for the current imports and something towards the accumulated debt of
nearly US $100-million.”
He said Zimbabwe expected to receive another 50MW-100MW from the Democratic
Republic of Congo, starting this month.
Power-sector sources said this week it was highly unlikely that Zimbabwe
would continue to get power supply from the regional power utilities and
beyond if it did not settle its debts.
“These regional power utilities have had enough of excuses. Each time they
chase for payments of outstanding debts, they are told things are being
worked out. It is only a matter of time before they get fed-up and stop
supplying us with power,” said a source.
Consumers and industrial players are hit by power cuts as the power utility
struggles to provide electricity to all parts of the country.
The government is not likely to provide funds to clear the debts soon.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti has indicated the country faces challenges that
will make the settlement of debts difficult. The government is struggling to
pay decent public service salaries. Promises of salary increases are
unfulfilled.
There is a dogfight over whether the money from the sale of diamonds should
go towards public service salaries or not, while other essential services
await funding from the government.
Mangoma bemoaned Zesa’s US$40-million deal with NamPower to export about
150MW to Namibia. The tariff agreed is below Zimbabwe’s cost of generating
the power.