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Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]

A total of 2 222,5 gigawatt hour (GWh) of electricity were generated during the 4th quarter of last year with Hwange Thermal Power and Kariba Power Stations accounting for 65,1 and 30,7 percent, respectively, Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZimStat) latest data shows.

Presenting the 2023 fourth quarter electricity generation index yesterday, ZimStat manager — industrial statistics, Mr Kuda Chiguma said in the period under review, a total of 379,1GWh of electricity were imported reflecting a 10,2 percent quarter-on-quarter decrease from 422,1 GWh imported in third quarter 2023.

In total, there was an 11,4 percent decline in the volume of electricity imported during 2023 (2 040,5GWh) than in 2022 (2 303,6GWh), he said.

“The volume of electricity exported in fourth quarter 2023 was 113,7GWh, representing a 4 percent increase from 109,3 GWh exported in 3rd quarter 2023.”

In total, Mr Chiguma said the volume of electricity exported in 2023 was 339,6 GWh, which was 14 percent less than 395,1 GWh exported in 2022.

He added that 56 percent of the 379,1 GWh electricity imported during the 4th quarter of 2023 was from Eskom (South Africa), while 33 percent was from HCB (Mozambique).

Electricity Imported (GWh) by Source

In terms of volume of electricity distributed, 2 192,2 GWh was distributed resulting in a 5,4 percent decrease from 2  316,5 GWh distributed in the 3rd quarter 2023.

“During 2023, the total volume of electricity distributed (8 549,8 GWh), was 7,4 percent less than distributed in 2022 (9  229,5GWh.

“Manufacturing, transport and construction sectors combined, received 732,2 GWh of the distributed electricity during 4th Quarter 2023,” he said.

Domestic consumers received 504,1 GWh during the period under review, mining received 352,4 GWh and agriculture received 129 GWh.

Last year President Mnangagwa commissioned the US$1,5 billion Hwange Thermal Power Station Units 7 and 8 Expansion Project in Matabeleland North Province, which added 600MW to the national grid.

Meanwhile, according to Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), 1 105 megawatts were produced yesterday with Hwange producing 774MW, Kariba 300MW, small thermals producing nothing and independent power producers producing 31 MW. — @SikhulekelaniM1