Zesa says increased capacity utilisation putting p...

Zesa says increased capacity utilisation putting pressure on power supply

Those relying on the grid should brace for the long power cuts that started on Monday until Friday, the national power company has warned.

“Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) would like to advise its valued customers countrywide that there will be increased load curtailment from the 12th to 16th of September 2022.

“Our engineers are working round the clock to ensure full restoration of service,” reads a statement from the power utility’s distribution unit. Two reasons for the disruption in power have been cited as reduced supply and increased demand:

“This is due to depressed generation on the grid coupled by increased electricity demand as a result of increased economic activities.”

Zimbabwe has a peak consumption of 1,600 MW against an average of 1,200 MW capacity. The balance is imported through long term arrangements, meaning that any disruption to the supply will almost result in power cuts.

Zimbabwe’s industrial capacity utilisation which had fallen is now climbing back. Earlier in the year the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) said that capacity utilisation increased to its highest level since 2012 in 2021 at 56.25% and the trend has continued into 2022.

New mining projects and expansions on existing ones also exert a high energy demand.