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Hwange Thermal Power Station and Kariba South hydropower plant.
While Zesa would not blow its own trumpet for fear the increase may not be sustainable, indications are that the rise in output may, for now, result in reduced load-shedding.
Only last week the power utility was producing less than 900MW as output had dropped significantly at both Hwange and Kariba while only one small thermal power plant was active.
Power output at Hwange and Kariba usually drops when there are technical faults or during maintenance work. But in most of such instances the hydropower output rarely falls below 500MW.
By the end of last week Zesa had moved close to ensuring all its power stations returned to use, with Hwange ramping up output to 607MW from just under 300MW early in the week.
The usually reliable Kariba South plant, which saw output falling to about 583MW on Tuesday last week, has                         since shored up production to 687MW to help ease power cuts.
Bulawayo Thermal Station, which was producing an average of 30MW last week, is not producing this week while output at Munyati fell to 20MW from 25MW.
Zesa is presently only importing power from Mozambique with whom it has an agreement for 50MW (firm) and 150MW (non-firm), which depends on whether the neighbour has excess power.
Plans are afoot to bring both Bulawayo and Harare thermal power stations back on line.
Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira confirmed there had been significant increases in power output at Hwange and Kariba.
“But there are two issues to note. For the first time in years Hwange is now running on six (generating) units and producing 607MW,” he said.
“The other issue is that while Hwange is running on six units, it is important to note this remains fragile until we get delivery of new parts to make all the units reliable.”
It could take up to three weeks before Zesa takes delivery of the parts.
Zimbabwe needs about 2 200MW per day. But due to constrained capacity, it has been running on 1 100MW at most.
Zesa is unable to maintain equipment due to cash constraints, worsened by US$400 million in outstanding bills.
Crippling power shortages have seen the Government going all out to lure investors into the power sector. So far US$10 billion worth of power projects have been approved and await implementation.