Zimbabwe power cuts to persist for 10 years: official
(AFP) – 6 hours ago
NYANGA, Zimbabwe — Energy-starved Zimbabwe will suffer longer and more
frequent power shortages for the next 10 years, a senior official said
Friday.
The country’s power utility will extend blackouts until it can boost
capacity, Patson Mbiriri, secretary for energy and power development, told
an annual congress of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries.
“By 2022 that’s when we will be able to generate enough power for domestic
and industrial power,” Mbiriri said.
Zimbabwe needs about 2,200 megawatts of electricity at peak consumption but
generates just below 1,300 megawatts, while relying on imports to fill the
gap.
Due to ageing equipment, power generation is often disrupted following
breakdowns. In most cases, the generators operate below capacity.
In recent months, Zimbabwe could only afford to import 25 megawatts from
nearby countries after major electricity suppliers in the region turned off
the switches over non-payment of dues.
“Most of our woes in terms of blackouts will end in 2015,” Mbiriri said.
Energy Minister Elton Mangoma recently said Zimbabwe has whittled its debt
to power providers to under $20 million from around $100 million in a bid to
resume imports.
There are plans to revamp the northern Kariba hydro-power station and the
Hwange thermal power station in the west of the country.