ZIMBABWE is engaged in talks with Mozambique and Zambia to secure a combined 280MW of electricity to bridge the temporary supply deficit, which has seen consumers going for several hours without power.

The country is generating internally up to 1 350MW but the demand due to the high economic activities, it is getting up to 1 700MW, giving a deficit of around 350 megawatts.

The power utility, Zesa, has had to adopt a crippling load shedding regime recently as a measure to manage the limited grid, resulting in some suburbs experiencing up to eight hours without power supplies.

This week Energy and Power Development Minister, Soda Zhemu, said there has been a recovery of Unit 5 from Hwange Power station, which is generating 150MW, bringing the national deficit down to 200MW
“We are in discussions with Mozambique for the recently commissioned power plants to give us an additional 180 megawatts,” said Minister Zhemu in response to queries from Parliamentarians on Wednesday.

“We are also at the final stage of discussion with Zambia to get an additional 100 megawatts. This is also a temporary measure while we are awaiting the completion of the expansion that is happening at Hwange Power Station through the additional 7 and 8 units and we would be expecting 600 megawatts to come through next year.”

The minister clarified that the reduced grid situation was temporary given that most of the wheat production is now at maturity stage, adding that the power that had been ring-fenced for agriculture will soon be available for domestic and other economic activities.

“After the situation on Covid-19 subsided, there was some opening of the economy in terms of the level of economic activities.

“We have seen the demand for electricity going up and for the purposes that the general public gets informed as to when electricity would be available, obviously we have to ration the available power,” said the minister.

He said the country’s largest power station, Kariba Hydro-Power, was currently producing 900 MW as two of its units are out of service for 12 hours a day due to the rehabilitation of the dam wall that is being undertaken.

Hwange Power Station is generating on average 403MW against installed capacity of about 900MW, giving a combined national total of about 1 300MW. The limited input from small thermals, adds to an average of 1 400MW from within the country.

Minister Zhemu said the regional grid was also constrained, which limits options for Zimbabwe. The country normally gets additional power supply from South Africa and Mozambique but because of the demand obtaining in those countries, Zimbabwe is not getting enough power from these other countries.

“What we decided to do was to inform the public by way of giving them a schedule so that those who want to do irrigation know exactly when the power will be available so that they are able to plan,” he said.

“Our situation has not deteriorated much than what it used to be two months ago but for purposes of good order, we have decided to inform the consumers so that they do proper planning.”