Power cuts stall timber exports, says company

lucrative export markets as a result of unreliable power supplies.
Probably one of the biggest timber companies in the country, ATH currently exports dry timber to South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique and Malawi. ATH chief executive Mr Joseph Kanyekanye, told New Ziana timber production had slumped owing to intermittent power shortages.
“Our export market is ever broadening but our ability to deliver is being restricted by low production, a level which is a result of intermittent power cuts,” he said.
“Export markets already exist and can take as much as 80 percent of production. However, intermittent power cuts are having a negative impact on the production process.”
ATH is producing nearly 4 000 cubic metres monthly, about 45 percent capacity as a result of unreliable power supplies affecting the whole country.
Power utility, Zesa Holdings, is struggling to meet a 800 megawatt deficit as demand continues to outstrip supply.
Mr Kanyekanye said ATH, which was only receiving undisturbed power for nine hours every day, could not dry up timber to meet the standards of the export market.
“Allied Timbers has capacity to adequately supply the local and export market,” he said.
The ATH boss said the export market required kiln dried timber, noting that “we are barely achieving to dry 20 percent for production due to power cuts”.
“The limited kiln dried timber available is being shared between local and export market,” he said, adding that the firm had since suspended one of its work shifts.
He said the firm’s long term plans included increasing production to 11 000 cubic metres of wood per month in an exercise requiring US$3 million, adding that the resources would be used to secure machinery. “The focus for Allied Timbers this year is to inject US$3 million in a bid to increase production to 11 000 cubic metres of timber.”
A cubic metre of timber is currently selling at around US$280 on the local market. Wholly owned by the Government, ATH has five strategic business units namely Allied Timbers Zimbabwe, Allied Timbers International, Allied Timbers Saligna, Altim City Zimbabwe and Altim City Botswana. – New Ziana.