adminFarirai Machivenyika and Ivan Zhakata
Zimbabwe will need to boost electricity supplies to 2 350MW by 2025 due to the economic growth being experienced especially through investments in the mining sector, Zesa’s distribution subsidiary ZETDC has calculated.
ZETDC managing director Engineer Howard Choga told a stakeholders meeting convened by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) yesterday in Harare that at present Zimbabwe had a peak demand of 1 800 MW and over 2 000 MW would be required by 2025 due to the performance of the economy.
The country’s economy is on a rebound due to various policies initiated by Government that has seen growth in the mining and agricultural sectors while capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector jumped to 57 percent last year from 48 percent experienced the previous year.
The demand for power was an indication of improving economic performance.
“As ZETDC we have the capacity to measure the performance of the economy through consumption of electricity and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development want to achieve a US$12 billion mining economy by 2023 and I can assure you that they are on track because use of our electricity in the mining industry is growing.
“Mines are opening and existing mines are expanding and we can see the US$12 billion mining industry coming to fruition by 2023. I spoke to the 2 350 MW that would be needed in the next three years and we are talking to our regional partners for the purposes of importing the excess capacity which they have,” he said.
In the first quarter of this year the gold segment posted an 86 percent increase in mined volumes compared to the same quarter last year while lithium output grew by 83 percent followed by diamonds at 51 percent.
Coal output rose 21 percent and platinum group of metals 13 percent.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development Dr Gloria Magombo said there was a need to articulate clear strategies and solutions to electricity problems.
“We need to strategise and review our ways as government. The regulator, ZERA, is a very critical stakeholder within Government and part of their role is to advice Government within the issues which we had that deal with energy. They have make sure that the current and efficient use of the energy. I am sure most of you are aware of the challenges with regards to the issue of demand and supply of electricity.
“We must create an enabling environment for independent power producers to come on board and we need more private sector players to come in to explore the energy industry. We also need to tap into solar and wind to generate electricity,” she said.
Dr Magombo was concerned about vandalism of transformers saying it was negatively impacting on the demand and supply chain.
“A total of 4 100 transformers have been vandalised across the country and we are working on stiffer penalties to curb the scourge of vandalism and theft of copper cables. Missing transformers result in longer periods with electricity so I would like to encourage people to report vandalism,” she said.
Speaking at the same occasion, ZERA chairperson Dr David Madzikanda attributed the price increase of petroleum and gas to the conflict in Ukraine.
“We continued to have power cuts and load shedding due to high demand of electricity than supply. Sub-economic tariffs existing in the electricity sector are very low leading to ZETDC to operate under losses.
“There is need to come up with innovative and creative thinking in ensuring quality petroleum and gas products at affordable prices. We shall also be grading service stations as a way of increasing consumer awareness, improve service delivery and maintain world class standards,” he said.
Dr Madzikanda said Zera been doing extensive safety awareness campaigns on the media as well as engaging community leaders.
Online Reporter