Zim to import power generators

Brighton Gumbo Business Reporter
THE government will early next year import an undisclosed number of emergency power generators for industry to cushion companies from the impact of the on-going increased load-shedding.

Zimbabwe has over the years been battling acute electricity shortages due to Zesa’s obsolete equipment and lack of investment in power generation projects.

Of late, Zesa has announced an increased load-shedding schedule owing to low water levels at Kariba Dam.

The power utility has capped generation capacity at Kariba Hydropower Station at 475 megawatts from 750MW.

The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president Davison Norupiri told Business Chronicle that Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge has hinted that government will import emergency power generators to lessen the impact of load-shedding on industry.

He said Minister Undenge revealed this during their meeting in Harare yesterday to discuss the impact power shortages on industry.

“Minister Undenge has assured us that the government through his ministry will next year import emergency power generators to cushion business from power cuts.

“At the meeting today, he indicated that the first batch of the generators that have a combined output of 200MW will be imported in February,” said Norupiri.

He said the minister revealed that the new diesel generators generate electricity at between $0,13 and $0,18 cents per kilowatt hour compared to the current diesel generators that produce at between $0,25 and $0,42/ kWh. However, Norupiri said there was need for the country to invest in new power generation projects.

He said the excessive reliance of the country on none renewable energy was choking and weakening its potential of being a giant in supplying energy in the region.

Norupiri said the minister also revealed that the government was working on introducing mandatory solar geysers with a power generation capacity of 300MW.

“The solar geysers and the new generators will create a virtual power station with a combined capacity of 500MW,” he said.

“The geysers will be sourced locally and this will impact positively on employment creation.”

Zimbabwe has a national demand of 2,200MW but is presently producing about 1,300MW.