Exporters to pay for power in forex

THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has given power utility Zesa Holdings (Zesa) the greenlight to charge exporters in foreign currency while announcing a separate tariff for other forex earners.

“ZETDC would like to advise its valued customers that Zera has in terms of the Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19) approved an average tariff of USc12.21/kWh for exporting customers,” said ZETDC in a statement.

“In addition, foreign currency earners will now be required to pay their electricity bills in United States dollars as an average tariff of USc10.63/kWh. The adjustment is with effect from 10 October 2022 for maximum demand customers.”

Exporting customers and foreign currency earners include mining and manufacturing firms.

Zesa has also reviewed upwards, the charges for ordinary consumers of power, effective October 14.

Zesa in July raised power tariffs for exporters by close to eight percent, arguing then that the prevailing rate had become unsustainable. The tariff adjustment, which took effect from August 1, 2022 saw exporters such as mining firms paying USc10,63 per KwH, up from from USc9, 86.

ZETDC has previously explained power cuts that have become standard as arising from shortages driven by demand from increasing industry and mining capacity.

A number of high demand users have resorted to installing their own solar powered generation plants to avoid losing production time due to grid outages.

National power generation is expected to increase before year end as Hwange upgrade supply comes on board.