Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) says it is in discussions with neighbouring countries for an additional 280 megawatts (MW), which will improve the country’s power supplies.
Said ZETDC in a power supply update on Thursday:
“Amongst the many mitigation measures being taken to address this shortfall, the power utility is in discussions with power utilities in Mozambique and Zambia for a possible supply of 280 MW beginning of October 2021.”
According to the ZETDC, the current total power supply is ranging between 1 240MW to 1 600MW, against an average demand forecast of about 1 735MW, which leaves a deficit of around 145-500MW depending on imports availability and local generation performance.
This means the expected additional energy imports will cover over half of Zimbabwe’s current energy deficit.
And with the winter wheat irrigation programme coming to an end, expectations are that there will be a significant reduction (around 75MW) in irrigation load by end of next month.
Going forward, the power company said it also expects licenced independent power projects to add to supplies by year-end.
“An additional 60,5MW from internal thermal and solar Independent Power Producers (IPPs) projects is also expected to be added to the national grid by end of December 2021,” said ZETDC.
Online Reporter