Chivayo's undelivered project and drought deepen Z...

Chivayo's undelivered project and drought deepen Zimbabwe's power crisis

Oscar J Jeke

Zimbabwe is facing a significant power generation deficit, resulting in continued power cuts across the country, according to Energy Minister Edgar Moyo.

The Minister highlighted two key factors contributing to the crisis: businessman Wicknell Chivayo's failure to deliver on a promised 100MW solar project and a drought-induced water shortage affecting hydropower generation.

Minister Moyo addressed Parliament, providing an update on the national power situation. He emphasized that Chivayo's uncompleted Gwanda solar project significantly worsened the power shortage.

The additional 100MW from the project would have substantially reduced the current deficit.

The Zambezi River Authority's strict water allocation scheme further complicates the situation. Low water levels in Kariba have forced Zimbabwe and Zambia to reduce power generation at the Kariba hydropower station, currently producing a mere 292MW compared to its 1,050MW capacity.

"The Zambezi River Authority is implementing a tight water allocation schedule that has seen Zimbabwe and Zambia reducing their generation. Kariba power station is generating an average of 292MW out of a dependable or installed capacity of 1,050MW due to low water levels," explained the Minister.

While the country imports 200MW from South Africa's Eskom and Mozambique's EDM and HCB to bridge the gap, the total generation still falls short of the peak demand of 1,850MW. This translates to a deficit exceeding 400MW, necessitating the ongoing load shedding schedule.