News / National
Load shedding dark days to continue till 2017
17 Jul 2014 at 08:32hrs | Views
Zimbabweans should brace for more darkness as government says the ongoing electricity load shedding will continue until 2017, parliament has been told.
Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the on-going electricity blackout being experienced countrywide was likely to stay on as the country was producing less power.
"The problem of electricity is across the region, it is not only a Zimbabwean problem . . . so the issue of load shedding will be with us until 2017 when we are done with the construction of Kariba Hydro power station," he said.
Mavhaire was responding to a question from MDC-T MP for Harare Central Murisi Zwizwai who wanted to know when power outages were likely to come to an end as Zimbabwe had endured long nights in darkness.
"The challenges being experienced at the small thermal stations are a result of outdated plant and equipment," he said.
Mavhaire said the decrease in power was also attributed to broken-down machinery, major maintenance work, system disturbance and refurbishment of power units at the various power stations.
Zimbabwe is currently struggling to meet its energy requirements due to limited investment in the capital-intensive sector.
He listed the number of projects that are underway which could light up Zimbabwe once completed with the rehabilitation of Kariba South topping the list.
In the region, most countries are also experiencing power deficits, making it more difficult for Zimbabwe to import power when the country is experiencing a liquidity crunch.
At full capacity, Kariba generates 750 megawatts and Hwange 850MW, but the country needs about 2 100 megawatts daily. About 1 200MW are being generated at the moment. MDC-T MP for Kuwadzana East constituency Nelson Chamisa took a dig at Mavhaire saying President Robert Mugabe should "fire such clueless ministers" as he was failing to execute his duties.
But in his response, Mavhaire said: "Kugadzira magesti hakusi kubika sadza (generating electricity is not like cooking sadza)," a statement which brought the house into laughter.
"We are building something and it takes time so the honourable member should understand that. I don't want to mislead the nation that we will have a better situation soon when it will take us to 2017," he said.
Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the on-going electricity blackout being experienced countrywide was likely to stay on as the country was producing less power.
"The problem of electricity is across the region, it is not only a Zimbabwean problem . . . so the issue of load shedding will be with us until 2017 when we are done with the construction of Kariba Hydro power station," he said.
Mavhaire was responding to a question from MDC-T MP for Harare Central Murisi Zwizwai who wanted to know when power outages were likely to come to an end as Zimbabwe had endured long nights in darkness.
"The challenges being experienced at the small thermal stations are a result of outdated plant and equipment," he said.
Mavhaire said the decrease in power was also attributed to broken-down machinery, major maintenance work, system disturbance and refurbishment of power units at the various power stations.
He listed the number of projects that are underway which could light up Zimbabwe once completed with the rehabilitation of Kariba South topping the list.
In the region, most countries are also experiencing power deficits, making it more difficult for Zimbabwe to import power when the country is experiencing a liquidity crunch.
At full capacity, Kariba generates 750 megawatts and Hwange 850MW, but the country needs about 2 100 megawatts daily. About 1 200MW are being generated at the moment. MDC-T MP for Kuwadzana East constituency Nelson Chamisa took a dig at Mavhaire saying President Robert Mugabe should "fire such clueless ministers" as he was failing to execute his duties.
But in his response, Mavhaire said: "Kugadzira magesti hakusi kubika sadza (generating electricity is not like cooking sadza)," a statement which brought the house into laughter.
"We are building something and it takes time so the honourable member should understand that. I don't want to mislead the nation that we will have a better situation soon when it will take us to 2017," he said.
Source - Zim Mail
