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confirmed that the Mozambican power utility had threatened to cut off supplies over the debt.
Zimbabwe’s second largest platinum producer, Mimosa, said it was now working to ensure the supplies continue.
Mimosa clinched a deal with Zesa and Hwange Colliery for continuous power supply to its mines in Zvishavane.
“HCB has threatened to cut off supply to Zesa for non-payment and discussions are currently ongoing between the local power utility HCB and Mimosa management in order to arrive at a solution to this situation,” the company said.
It noted that erratic power cuts have adversely affected production at the mine.
“Second quarter production performance was adversely affected by power outages as well as surface electrical breakdowns.”
Mimosa also indicated that production decreased 4 percent to 577 932 tonnes last year.
Zesa spokesman Mr Fullard Gwasira, although non-committal on the debt, said demand for power was increasing and they were in the process of finding ways of boosting power generation.
“Zesa Holdings, through its subsidiary companies the Zimbabwe Power Company and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, are pursuing various projects and measures to boost the electricity supply situation in Zimbabwe to achieve security of power supply,” he said.
Power usage in Zimbabwe is expected to grow by 29 percent this year in tandem with the steady growth in industrial capa-city.
Government estimates that the economy will grow by more than nine percent, buoyed by industrial capacity that is projected to reach around 60 percent by year end. – CAJ News.
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