Online Reporter
FROM an average 1 000MW late last year, local electricity output has been steadily recovering since January.
Kariba South Hydropower Plant was producing far less than capacity due to a low water level while Hwange Thermal was struggling because of technical issues. Although their contribution is helpful, independent power producers (IPPs) were marginal, contributing between 30MW to 70MW, as they still are.
In recent weeks, output peaked to 1 665MW, falling to 1 617MW on Tuesday and dipping further to 1 604MW yesterday.
We, yesterday, cited the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) Index of Electricity Generation report for the first quarter of this year saying electricity supply rose by 8,7 percent compared in that period compared to the same period last year and by 6,1 percent versus the last three months of last year.
“Hwange Thermal Power Station generated 1 674,5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity, representing 69,2 percent of the total electricity generated during the first quarter of 2025,” the report notes.
Kariba Power Station contributed 24,3 percent, while IPPs accounted for the remaining 6,5 percent.
ZimStat further noted that the amount of imported electricity decreased by 37,4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 and by 39,6 percent on-year, likely due to improved domestic output.
Mr Eddie Cross, chairman of the Intensive Energy Users Group told us that, indeed there was an increase in power supply in the first three months of this year with hopes the improvement would be sustained since Kariba’s water level is at 22 percent.
We note the improvement and pray that no technical issues arise at the two key facilities — Kariba and Hwange.
However, we must observe that a high of 1 665MW remains too little since the country’s peak demand is estimated at 2 000MW. Yes, the imported feed covers the deficit but we need to produce much more domestically.
At 442MW yesterday out of its nameplate capacity of 1 050MW Kariba South must contribute more. At 1 122MW yesterday out of its maximum capacity of 1 520MW Hwange must contribute more too. Kariba can be restrictive, we acknowledge, because its performance primarily depends on its lake level but whatever technical issues are hampering Hwange Thermal Power Station must be quickly resolved so that it moves further up, close to 1 400MW.
IPPs, as mentioned earlier, are important contributors given our circumstances as a country but at between 30MW to 70MW, there remains a lot of room for improvement. We encourage private companies to invest more in power generation because there is a ready market for their output.
derick.khumalo