News / National
Zimbabweans must brace for more power cuts, says ZESA
25 Feb 2015 at 06:43hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE will experience more power outages in the next few weeks due to a technical fault at Hwange Power Station, the power utility said on Tuesday.
Zesa Holdings warned consumers to brace for increased load-shedding outside the publicised schedules.
ZESA said on Tuesday four generating units at the Hwange power station had broken down. The power supply situation is expected to remain subdued during the restoration process.
In a statement issued out yesterday, the power utility said consumers will be updated accordingly during the restoration process.
"Zesa Holdings would like to advise its customers countrywide that there will be an increase in load-shedding outside the publicised schedule due to a technical fault at Hwange Power Station," reads the statement.
"Currently, there are two units generating at Hwange Power Station and customers will experience suppressed power supply until generation is restored to normal levels."
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a power deficit with daily electricity of demand of 2,200 MW against an installed capacity of 1,100MW and government has encouraged independent private producers (IPPs) to step in to cover the deficit.
Meanwhile, Zesa has said it will have to raise electricity tariffs by six percent to cater for salary arrears amounting to $117 million arising from a gazetted 2012 collective bargaining agreement which management ignored.
The power utility conceded bungling by not honouring the collective bargaining, but is arguing that abiding by the award will result in the payroll shooting by $5,6 million per month, a figure that can only be raised through increasing tariffs.
The arbitrary award, which would have a heavy bearing on electricity consumers, was granted by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ahmed Ebrahim and Professor Emmanuel Magade.
Zesa Holdings warned consumers to brace for increased load-shedding outside the publicised schedules.
ZESA said on Tuesday four generating units at the Hwange power station had broken down. The power supply situation is expected to remain subdued during the restoration process.
In a statement issued out yesterday, the power utility said consumers will be updated accordingly during the restoration process.
"Zesa Holdings would like to advise its customers countrywide that there will be an increase in load-shedding outside the publicised schedule due to a technical fault at Hwange Power Station," reads the statement.
"Currently, there are two units generating at Hwange Power Station and customers will experience suppressed power supply until generation is restored to normal levels."
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a power deficit with daily electricity of demand of 2,200 MW against an installed capacity of 1,100MW and government has encouraged independent private producers (IPPs) to step in to cover the deficit.
Meanwhile, Zesa has said it will have to raise electricity tariffs by six percent to cater for salary arrears amounting to $117 million arising from a gazetted 2012 collective bargaining agreement which management ignored.
The power utility conceded bungling by not honouring the collective bargaining, but is arguing that abiding by the award will result in the payroll shooting by $5,6 million per month, a figure that can only be raised through increasing tariffs.
The arbitrary award, which would have a heavy bearing on electricity consumers, was granted by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ahmed Ebrahim and Professor Emmanuel Magade.
Source - Byo24News
