Zhemu pleads with IPPs to maximise production to r...

Zhemu pleads with IPPs to maximise production to reduce power deficit

Zim Now Writer

Energy and Power Development Minister Soda Zhemu has pleaded with Independent Power producers to maximize production as Zimbabwe goes through a tough energy crisis.

This comes as Kariba South Hydro Power Station, which had been reported to be closing down, will continue to produce electricity. It will, however be limited to an average of 300 MW, half of what it used to produce.

Power utility Zesa Holdings was also pushing production at its thermal power stations to 445 MW while also seeking to improve imports.

Zimbabwe is experiencing punishing load-shedding, which ius reportedly costing business phenomenally.

The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages the Kariba Dam and works out how much each power station can use, had allocated 22.5 billion cubic metres for each power station, but Zimbabwe had exhausted its allocation, while Zambia’s Zesco had not.

However, a new agreement by ZRA allows Zesa to produce 300 MW at Kariba South while Zesco can use more than double at Kariba North until more water starts flowing into the lake.

“We are also increasing production from local power generation installations such as Hwange Thermal Power Station and ZPC will ramp up production at the power station to average 400MW. ZPC will also ramp up production at small thermals to produce a combined total of 45MW,” said Minister Zhemu.

He also said other measures included the commissioning of new capacity such as Unit 7 at Hwange Power Station, which is undergoing technical processes for commissioning and will start feeding power into the grid later this month. Once Unit 7 has been commercially commissioned, Unit 8 will follow early next year and give Zimbabwe an additional 600MW.

The Minister added that Zesa was negotiating for additional imports from current suppliers, with more power expected to be secured through the Southern African Power Pool market.