News / National
Load shedding to increase, due to maintenance at Kariba: Zesa
01 May 2011 at 07:34hrs | Views
THE country should brace for increased load shedding between now and next week as Zesa Holdings embarks on annual maintenance of generator transformers at the Kariba Power Station.
The maintenance, which is done annually at the onset of the winter season, started on Wednesday and is expected to be complete by May 8.
Zesa spokesperson, Mr Fullard Gwasira, yesterday said during the maintenance period, an estimated 250 megawatts would be lost. However, efforts are being made to cover the deficit with imports.
The country produces about 1200 MW a day from the four power stations; Hwange, Munyati, Kariba and Harare. On average, Zimbabwe needs about 2200 MW a day. Kariba has six generators.
Mr Gwasira said although they have made alternative arrangements with other regional power utilities to assist with supplies during the maintenance works, supplies might still not be enough during peak hours - hence the increased load shedding.
Zesa is importing power from Mozambique with whom it has an agreement for 50 MW (guaranteed) and 150 MW (non-guaranteed), which depends on whether the neighbour has excess power.
"Customers might see a slight increase in load shedding but the good thing about it is that upon completion of the servicing, the generator transformers will be more efficient to deal with high demand that is usually associated with winter," Mr Gwasira said.
"In fact after the servicing, we expect to generate more electricity by about 15 more megawatts," he said.
Mr Gwasira urged customers to use the available electricity sparingly to alleviate the extent and duration of load shedding.
He lamented the failure by people to pay bills on time saying it continued to impact negatively on the amount of electricity generated. Currently, Mr Gwasira said Zesa was owed about US$450 million in electricity bills.
"If all these people pay up, we will be able to generate enough and import more electricity for everyone without any load shedding. We will also be able to pay our suppliers on time," he said.
The maintenance, which is done annually at the onset of the winter season, started on Wednesday and is expected to be complete by May 8.
Zesa spokesperson, Mr Fullard Gwasira, yesterday said during the maintenance period, an estimated 250 megawatts would be lost. However, efforts are being made to cover the deficit with imports.
The country produces about 1200 MW a day from the four power stations; Hwange, Munyati, Kariba and Harare. On average, Zimbabwe needs about 2200 MW a day. Kariba has six generators.
Mr Gwasira said although they have made alternative arrangements with other regional power utilities to assist with supplies during the maintenance works, supplies might still not be enough during peak hours - hence the increased load shedding.
Zesa is importing power from Mozambique with whom it has an agreement for 50 MW (guaranteed) and 150 MW (non-guaranteed), which depends on whether the neighbour has excess power.
"Customers might see a slight increase in load shedding but the good thing about it is that upon completion of the servicing, the generator transformers will be more efficient to deal with high demand that is usually associated with winter," Mr Gwasira said.
"In fact after the servicing, we expect to generate more electricity by about 15 more megawatts," he said.
Mr Gwasira urged customers to use the available electricity sparingly to alleviate the extent and duration of load shedding.
He lamented the failure by people to pay bills on time saying it continued to impact negatively on the amount of electricity generated. Currently, Mr Gwasira said Zesa was owed about US$450 million in electricity bills.
"If all these people pay up, we will be able to generate enough and import more electricity for everyone without any load shedding. We will also be able to pay our suppliers on time," he said.
Source - TZN
