Reprieve for Sable

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Sable Chemicals has engaged Government to reconsider its position to cut power supplies to its plant so that the fertiliser manufacturing firm saves more than 500 jobs.

Last week, Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge said major mining companies and other heavy power consumers such as Sable Chemicals would have to reduce consumption by up to 25 percent.

Sable Chemicals would lose its 40 megawatts allocation that would be diverted to residential areas.

The decision to withdraw power supplies to Sable Chemicals, saw the Midlands-based firm pressing the panic button, saying it would close shop .

However, in an interview yesterday, Sable Chemicals chief executive officer Mr Jack Murehwa said they had put on hold closure of the company pending negotiations with the Government.

“We are still operating. We have engaged the Government over the issue. We are quite positive that the engagement would be fruitful. Call me tomorrow I will have a clear picture on our current discussions with the Government,” said Mr Murehwa.

Security cantonments have also been asked to load-shed non-essential areas as part of measures adopted by Government to reduce the impact of the massive power cuts being experienced across the country.

This is expected to save about 25MW, said Minister Undenge.

Minister Undenge said Sable Chemicals, consumed 40MW of electricity alone and owed $150 million in unpaid bills to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).

He told Parliament last week that Government had engaged Mozambique to increase electricity supply.

“We usually import 50 megawatts of electricity from Mozambique, but we are engaged in talks with them to increase the supply. Zambia is also experiencing challenges worse challenges than us as a result of shortage of electricity. Not only Zambia, but the whole SADC region is being affected by electricity shortages,” said Minister Undenge while fielding questions in the National Assembly.

Minister Undenge said the challenges experienced in Kariba came to light in April last year and was agreed together with the Zambezi River Authority to allow people continue supplying enough power for winter.