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“The tender for 5,5 million CFLs (compact florescent lamps) has since closed and the State Procurement Board is currently processing the identity of the supplier.
“We will give the CFLs for free in exchange for incandescent bulbs which we will destroy,” he said.
Establishing a hydro-electric power station or a thermal power station with a production capacity of between 250 and 500 MW costs an estimated US$60 million.
“This is an immediate term response to relieve our clients from load-shedding while the medium term strategy is to deal with Hwange and Kariba expan- sions.”
CFLs last longer, at least 8 000 hours while any incandescent light bulb lasts for 1 000 hours.
Mr Gwasira allayed fears that florescent bulbs caused cancer saying if properly used, no one will be affected.
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“Obviously there are claims that florescent lamps cause cancer because they have mercury but one would need to inhale at least 50 of them in a closed environment to be affected.
“There are no adverse effects if properly used. There is therefore need for proper disposal,” he said.
Mr Gwasira said the power utility would introduce the pre-paid metering system before year-end following the delivery of a new billing system last Friday.
“The prepayment metering system will enable customers to manage their own consumption of electri- city. The system is basically similar to the concept of juicing up of cellphones, whereby if you have not juiced, you will not be able to get any power.
“It’s a win-win system between us (Zesa) and the customer. It allows ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company) to be able to honour its debts to suppliers and in the same breath provide a better quality of service due to better revenue inflows.
“The system leads to better management of electricity consumption and will put to rest all the problems associated with billing which have bedeviled the utility for the past two years. This represents the end of an era,” Mr Gwasira said.
He said the prepayment metering system will be provided to everyone including defaulters, who will be covered by a new payment plan.
“We will be giving the meters to everyone starting with domestic users. We will come up with a formula that will cater for current consumption and partly arrears until the bill is cleared,” Mr Gwasira said.
He said the power utility was owed about US$450 million by defaulters making it difficult for Zesa to import electricity.
Vusumuzi Dube
Online Reporter