News / National
Load shedding for next four years: Zesa
14 Nov 2011 at 18:31hrs | Views
Bulawayo residents, peaceful demonstration against Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) - Lwandle Malinga
Zesa chief executive officer Engineer Josh Chifamba said Zimbabwe should brace itself for continued load shedding in the next four years. Zesa Holdings is facing challenges and among them there is vandalism that destroys property worth US$800 000 per month, a huge debt, low installed capacity and general dip in the availability of power in the region.
Eng Chifamba was giving oral evidence before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy chaired by Uzumba MP Cde Simba Mudarikwa (Zanu-PF). Eng Chifamba said the recent tariff increase, coupled with new projects currently being implemented both at Hwange and Kariba Power Station should be a source of hope for improved electricity supply in the next three years.
"At Hwange, we will be putting two extra machines to give us 600 Megawatts and Kariba 300 MW, that's 900 MW, we expect to finish Kariba in 2015 and Hwange 2016," he said.
Eng Chifamba said the completion of these projects would not see loading shedding easing.
He also said Botswana was currently working on a new project and Zesa hopes to tap into it when it is completed. The deal was, however, subject to the two countries agreeing terms.
The consumer debt has been reduced from US$450 million to US$427 million owing to payment arrangement Zesa has entered with customers. The Zesa boss implored legislators to come up with a legal instrument that would punish consumers who continue to use old bulbs instead of energy savers once new bulbs have been introduced.
On tariffs, Eng Chifamba said the approved structures though coming late had gone a long way in stabilising operations. It was critical, said Eng Chifamba, for stakeholders to realise that electricity was not cheap.The delay in approving a cost reflective structure has seen Zesa failing to repair and maintain equipment while affecting operations.
He said the price of coal has also threatened the viability of their business and Eng Chifamba called for a good operating environment conducive to draw investors. On independent power producers, Eng Chifamba dismissed indications that Zesa was blocking them. He said Zesa wished to see more stakeholders coming in to assist them deliver electricity.
Eng Chifamba was giving oral evidence before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy chaired by Uzumba MP Cde Simba Mudarikwa (Zanu-PF). Eng Chifamba said the recent tariff increase, coupled with new projects currently being implemented both at Hwange and Kariba Power Station should be a source of hope for improved electricity supply in the next three years.
"At Hwange, we will be putting two extra machines to give us 600 Megawatts and Kariba 300 MW, that's 900 MW, we expect to finish Kariba in 2015 and Hwange 2016," he said.
Eng Chifamba said the completion of these projects would not see loading shedding easing.
The consumer debt has been reduced from US$450 million to US$427 million owing to payment arrangement Zesa has entered with customers. The Zesa boss implored legislators to come up with a legal instrument that would punish consumers who continue to use old bulbs instead of energy savers once new bulbs have been introduced.
On tariffs, Eng Chifamba said the approved structures though coming late had gone a long way in stabilising operations. It was critical, said Eng Chifamba, for stakeholders to realise that electricity was not cheap.The delay in approving a cost reflective structure has seen Zesa failing to repair and maintain equipment while affecting operations.
He said the price of coal has also threatened the viability of their business and Eng Chifamba called for a good operating environment conducive to draw investors. On independent power producers, Eng Chifamba dismissed indications that Zesa was blocking them. He said Zesa wished to see more stakeholders coming in to assist them deliver electricity.
Source - Byo24News
