News / National
Increased load shedding due to reduced output says Zesa
16 Aug 2013 at 05:26hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) says the increased load shedding is due to reduced output from its power generation units.
In a statement, the power utility company said during the election period it imported additional electricity support from the Southern African Power Pool, (SAPP) to ensure the smooth running of the elections, which resulted in minimal load shedding during the elections.
ZESA added that over the past two weeks, it lost four power generating units which reduced output from 700 megawatts to 200 megawatts.
The power utility company said load shedding is further compounded by depressed imports due to plant maintenance at Cahora Bassa in Mozambique.
ZESA said it remains committed to fulfilling its responsibility in providing secure and reliable power to the country saying it has appealed to regional utilities for electricity to ensure the smooth hosting of the UNWTO General Assembly.
The concerns by ZESA come after the public expressed dismay at the increased power cuts across the country after the announcement of the results of the harmonised elections, suggesting a hidden agenda.
Meanwhile, analysts say the ZESA power cuts which have attracted fierce public criticism call for serious investigations and a clean up at the power utility company.
The analysts told the ZBC News that the country cannot afford sabotaging of an important national asset such as power supply.
They questioned that while in the past ZESA has always used the media to alert impending load shedding, the power utility company did not do so this time.
The analysts also queried ZESA's explanation that two units at Hwange Power Station broke down saying the coincidence smacks of underhand political intentions suggesting that the next minister who will take over the energy portfolio has a serious clean up to do at the company.
While ZESA says the two Hwange units that are down have contributed to a 200 megawatt reduction in power supply on the national grid, ZESA's website indicates that as at the 15th of August, Hwange Power Station was generating 497 megawatts, 750 megawatts in Kariba, 15 megawatts in Harare, 28 megawatts in Munyati and 20 megawatts in Bulawayo.
ZESA is not importing any power to sustain local consumption.
In a statement, the power utility company said during the election period it imported additional electricity support from the Southern African Power Pool, (SAPP) to ensure the smooth running of the elections, which resulted in minimal load shedding during the elections.
ZESA added that over the past two weeks, it lost four power generating units which reduced output from 700 megawatts to 200 megawatts.
The power utility company said load shedding is further compounded by depressed imports due to plant maintenance at Cahora Bassa in Mozambique.
ZESA said it remains committed to fulfilling its responsibility in providing secure and reliable power to the country saying it has appealed to regional utilities for electricity to ensure the smooth hosting of the UNWTO General Assembly.
The concerns by ZESA come after the public expressed dismay at the increased power cuts across the country after the announcement of the results of the harmonised elections, suggesting a hidden agenda.
Meanwhile, analysts say the ZESA power cuts which have attracted fierce public criticism call for serious investigations and a clean up at the power utility company.
The analysts told the ZBC News that the country cannot afford sabotaging of an important national asset such as power supply.
They questioned that while in the past ZESA has always used the media to alert impending load shedding, the power utility company did not do so this time.
The analysts also queried ZESA's explanation that two units at Hwange Power Station broke down saying the coincidence smacks of underhand political intentions suggesting that the next minister who will take over the energy portfolio has a serious clean up to do at the company.
While ZESA says the two Hwange units that are down have contributed to a 200 megawatt reduction in power supply on the national grid, ZESA's website indicates that as at the 15th of August, Hwange Power Station was generating 497 megawatts, 750 megawatts in Kariba, 15 megawatts in Harare, 28 megawatts in Munyati and 20 megawatts in Bulawayo.
ZESA is not importing any power to sustain local consumption.
Source - zbc
