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Senior Business Reporter

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) is upbeat on the country’s electricity situation this year, projecting that from April the prospects look bright as it expects water levels at Kariba to improve step up generation and further improve power supplies.

Kariba Power Station

Added to that, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority officials say they are satisfied with test results from Hwange Thermal Power Station’s new Units 7 and 8 which have been ongoing since December last year.

The two units are expected to add 600MW to the national grid to ease the shortages of electricity in the country due to growing demand as the economy grows and depressed generation at the existing units at Hwange due to old equipment and low water levels at Kariba Hydro Power Station.

Yesterday, Zimbabwe was generating 527 MW with Kariba supplying 200 MW, Hwange 316MW and Harare thermal station adding 11 MW. Two other small thermals, Munyati and Bulawayo were not generating anything.

Hwange thermal Power Station

Giving insights on the business environment, CZI noted that 2022 was characterised by enhanced load shedding, as demand fell far below available supply.

It said the energy situation in the first two months of the year was still critical with power generation is averaging 600MW, against current peak demand of 1,500 to 1,700MW

The daily power supply deficit is over 900MW during peak hours and to meet this deficit, Zesa is importing at 300-450MW of power from Zesco of Zambia, South Africa state-owned utility Eskom Holdings, EDM and Hydro Cahora Bassa of Mozambique.

However, it said due to various interventions in place, the 2023 energy situation looks bright. A number of renewable energy projects are also at different stages of implementation.

“The prospects for 2023 look bright from April to November when Kariba water levels improve,” said CZI.
“It is expected that improved rainfall patterns in the north along the Zambezi River will increase inflows into Lake Kariba.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) expects Kariba Power Station to feed 775MW by mid-April to May 2023 from the current 350 MW“Hwange 7 completion has been delayed but ZETDC now expects it to feed the grid in March 2023, with Hwange 8 expected to be complete by June 2023.

Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC)

The two power stations are expected to add 600MW to the grid, which would see power cuts declining by May 2023.”
According to the lobby group, “this means that the outlook is positive in 2023 as far as energy availability is concerned.

“Given the extent to which alternatives, such as fuel powered generators, were increasing operation costs, it is expected that competitiveness will be enhanced as the power situation improves.”

Players in the business and energy sector say the country will need to boost electricity supplies to 2 350MW by 2025 to meet demand, especially from the mining sector.

The country’s economy is on a rebound due to various policies initiated by the Government that have seen growth in the mining and agricultural sectors.