Zimbabwe braces for daily 9-hour power outages amid winter weather
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
By Associated Press, Published: May 13
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s state power company says it is implementing
power cuts of at least nine hours a day as the winter season begins in the
southern African nation.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Company says the outages, known as load shedding,
will affect homes, businesses and industries across the nation. Only major
hospitals and strategic facilities will be excluded.
In a statement Sunday, the company said during colder months it can only
supply half the national demand for power. Demand peaks in winter.
It blamed breakdowns, aging equipment and financial problems that prevent
them from importing power from the region.
In years of economic meltdown, Zimbabwe suffered regular poorly managed
power outages of up to 20 hours a day while some areas escaped cuts because
of inefficiency. The state weather office has forecast near freezing lows in
coming weeks.