Andrew
Business Reporter
DEMAND for power is projected to grow sharply from the current 1 500 megawatts (MW) to 5 177 (MW) by 2030, as the Second Republic’s policies drive growth across all sectors of the economy, according to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa).
Much of the demand is expected to be driven by the mining sector, which is angling to grow its contribution to the economy to $12 billion by next year, and the resurgent manufacturing sector.
Increase output in agriculture, which rose by 51 percent last year, and housing projects that are in the pipeline were likely to also drive demand.
Overall, the economy is projected to grow sustainably, spurred by massive public infrastructure projects, high commodity prices and strong output in agriculture.
The State power utility will thus need to undertake various interventions to increase domestic power generation to meet the anticipated strong demand.
“The Zimbabwe power system is saddled with aged transmission and distribution infrastructure, including old thermal power stations. The average available capacity 1500MW, comprising international generation and power imports against average demand of 1 700MW,” Zesa said.
To that end, Zesa has a three-pronged strategy — interim, short-term and long-term interventions — to meet expected demand.
The short-term initiatives, which are running from January 2022, involve importing 510MW of power from Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa.
However, the medium-term measures (2022-2024) include generating 4 650MW from various projects that encompass rehabilitations at Kariba, supply from Hwange Power Station (HPS)’s Unit 7 and Unit 8, independent power projects, the HPS life extension and Dondo gas plant.
Further, Zesa’s long-term plans (2024-2030) envisage producing 10 000MW from 10 hydropower initiatives along the Zambezi and Kafue Rivers, and long-term renewable energy projects.
The targeted gorges are Batoka (2 400MW), Devils (1 200MW), Kafue (900MW), Lower Kafue (600MW), Kariba (2 100MW), Mupata (1 200MW), Kahora North (1 200MW), Boroma (450MW), Lupata (850MW) and Mpanda Nkuwa (1 600MW).
Zimbabwe’s economy is forecast to have grown by 7,8 percent in 2021 despite the fallout from Cyclone Idai (March 2019) and the coronavirus pandemic.
In a document on its planned restructuring, Zesa said demand was already exceeding supply and would further increase substantially as the country moves to realise its goal of becoming an upper middle-economy by 2030.
Supply is currently constrained by old transmission and distribution infrastructure, including thermal power stations that have passed their productive lifespan.
The power utility said there has been new load applications for electricity connection from mining customers totalling 2 100MW and associated downstream load demand of 500MW over a three-year period.
Online Reporter