Zesa projects increased power demand in 2012

Zimbabwe imports power from Mozambique, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo to plug a 30 percent gap between national demand and supply presently at 1 800 Megawatts (MW) and 1 200MW respectively.
In a presentation to the Ministry of Energy and Power Development on the state and future of energy in the country, Zesa was quoted saying it carried out a survey that revealed electricity load demand in the mining sector was set to grow by an average 29 percent in 2012 up from 6,2 percent this year.
Contacted for comment, Zesa spokesperson Mr Shepherd Mandizvidza said: “Since the power supply and demand focus was done at a Government level, it would be logical for the Ministry of Energy and Power Development to address further the electricity supply status in 2012. Zesa Holdings is not in a position to comment at the moment.”
The online publication said the survey was divided into Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Harare regions with customers put in the following categories: mining, industrial, farming, commercial and institutions.
The survey established that findings on the mining sector were weighed down by the Harare region that recorded no change in power demand in the extractive industry for 2011 and 2012.
The survey also revealed that the average change excluding Harare stands at between 7,8 percent and 36,2 percent.
The Northern region will see the mining sector grow by 22 percent in 2012 while the industrial and farming sectors will grow by 55 percent and 33 percent respectively.
“Developments in the mining sector include Maranatha Ferrochrome at 13 Megavolt-Ampere (MVA), Mazoe Gold Mine at 5,5MVA and RioZim at 5MVA,” Zesa was quoted as saying in the report.
“Future load growth in the Southern region will be determined mainly by developments in mining. Mimosa and Wel Mining companies are planning to bring in 15MVA and 5MVA respectively by 2013 (while) Sino Zimbabwe is planning to have an additional 6MVA by December 2012,” the utility added. Zesa said small developments were also expected at Midlands State University, Steelmakers in Kwekwe and Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation’s Jena Mines to add to the southern power consumption toll.
The average load growth due to expansion in the Eastern area to 2016 is expected to be 16 percent.
“The largest energy increase in the area is anticipated in the next few years due to developments at Dorowa minerals translating to an additional 10MVA, 4 Brigade Masvingo at 5,5 MVA, Red Wing Mine 5MVA and Lennox Mine 5MVA.”
Diamond operations in the Marange area are expected to gobble 100MVA in 2012 after the Kimberly process certified Anjin China, Marange Resources and Mbada Diamonds exports, while Essar will consume 45MVA at its steel production and mining units.
Consumption at Zimplats and Zimbabwe Mining and Smelting Company is expected to hit a combined 51MVA in 2012.
Small-scale mining is also set to grow in 2012 when the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development distributes $1 million worth of mining equipment to small-scale entrepreneurs across the country.
The machinery that includes air pumps, ball mills, compressors, generator sets, stamp mills as well as water pumps – was procured from China using allocations from the Mining Loan Fund.