News / National
Govt makes frantic effort to address excessive power cuts
24 Sep 2015 at 05:44hrs | Views
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa
GOVERNMENT is aware of the current excessive power cuts and is making frantic efforts to address the situation, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to a question by MDC-T Mkoba legislator Mr Amos Chibaya, VP Mnangagwa said it was Government's wish that every household is supplied with electricity enough to meet its daily requirements.
He said two companies were awarded contracts to build two thermal power stations expected to produce a combined 600 megawatts while work on Kariba South Expansion was underway.
On completion, Kariba South will generate another 300MW.
"Load shedding has affected many souls. It is Government's wish that everyone must have electricity in their homes but it is not happening currently as power generated is not enough to meet demand," said VP Mnangagwa.
He said Government was committed to address the situation and that was why work on building additional power stations was underway.
"It is our wish that we produce enough electricity. That is why we allowed two companies to build thermal electricity plants that will each generate 300MW to give us 600MW. You are also aware that expansion of Kariba South is underway. This will bring joy in our homes," said VP Mnangagwa.
He said the power cuts were not a sign Government was not addressing the situation.
VP Mnangagwa said low water levels at Lake Kariba were impacting on electricity generation as well.
He said hospitals and other sensitive institutions are, as usual, exempted from load shedding considering the nation of their work.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority released a statement this week on the status of power generation at all its plants.
According to the status report, electricity generation has plummeted to 984 megawatts against a daily demand of 2000 MW resulting in increased load shedding as demand exceeds supply.
The generation status report indicated that Hwange was generating 414MW, Kariba 500MW, Harare Power Station 30MW, Munyati 22MW and Bulawayo 18MW translating to 984MW.
Hwange Power Station has capacity to generate 920MW, Kariba 750MW, Munyati 100MW, Bulawayo 90MW and Harare 50MW.
Repairs and breakdowns at power stations have been blamed for the current blackouts.
Responding to a question by MDC-T Mkoba legislator Mr Amos Chibaya, VP Mnangagwa said it was Government's wish that every household is supplied with electricity enough to meet its daily requirements.
He said two companies were awarded contracts to build two thermal power stations expected to produce a combined 600 megawatts while work on Kariba South Expansion was underway.
On completion, Kariba South will generate another 300MW.
"Load shedding has affected many souls. It is Government's wish that everyone must have electricity in their homes but it is not happening currently as power generated is not enough to meet demand," said VP Mnangagwa.
He said Government was committed to address the situation and that was why work on building additional power stations was underway.
"It is our wish that we produce enough electricity. That is why we allowed two companies to build thermal electricity plants that will each generate 300MW to give us 600MW. You are also aware that expansion of Kariba South is underway. This will bring joy in our homes," said VP Mnangagwa.
VP Mnangagwa said low water levels at Lake Kariba were impacting on electricity generation as well.
He said hospitals and other sensitive institutions are, as usual, exempted from load shedding considering the nation of their work.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority released a statement this week on the status of power generation at all its plants.
According to the status report, electricity generation has plummeted to 984 megawatts against a daily demand of 2000 MW resulting in increased load shedding as demand exceeds supply.
The generation status report indicated that Hwange was generating 414MW, Kariba 500MW, Harare Power Station 30MW, Munyati 22MW and Bulawayo 18MW translating to 984MW.
Hwange Power Station has capacity to generate 920MW, Kariba 750MW, Munyati 100MW, Bulawayo 90MW and Harare 50MW.
Repairs and breakdowns at power stations have been blamed for the current blackouts.
Source - Herald
