ZESA to import electricity from Mozambique

ZESA Holdings will import 40 mega watts of electricity from Mozambique, making the proposed tariffs increase inevitable as the energy from Mozambique is expensive.

ZESA has already agreed with the National Electridad de Mozambique (EDM) for the importation of 40 mega watts at 15 cents per kilowatt hour.

The agreement was reached last week after ZESA Holdings went to Mozambique.

ZESA Holdings Group CEO, Engineer Josh Chifamba said the importation of electricity is part of efforts to keep the industry running.

"We negotiated for 100 mega watts but we have agreed on 40 mega watts which will come at 15.5 cents per kilowatt hour. This is being made to ensure that lights will remain on, otherwise the country will be in darkness," he said.

Engineer Chifamba claimed that there is improvement of supply of electricity owing to innovations that the organisation has come up with as a way of managing water in Kariba Dam.

The power utility is selling electricity to clients at a cost of 8.64 cents per kilowatt hour.

The importation of electricity at a high cost of 15 cents per kilowatt hour means ZESA will have to increase tariffs to break even.