News / National
Energy and Power minister off to Mozambique for power talks
25 Mar 2012 at 06:38hrs | Views
Elton Mangoma, the Energy and Power Development Minister is expected to travel to Mozambique this week to explore strategies that could see Zimbabwe receive increased electricity supply in the interim.
The trip comes on the back of massive load-shedding across Zimbabwe.
Most residents, especially in high-density areas, are going for almost 10 hours per day without power after Mozambique reportedly cut off supplies over a US$76 million debt.
The situation has been worsened by malfunctioning units at Hwange Thermal Power Station and Kariba Hydro-Power Station.
Four units are now up at Hwange while six are operational at Kariba.
Speaking at the Euromoney Conference in Harare last week, Mr Mangoma said he would meet his Mozambican counterpart, Mr Salvador Namburete.
He said he would go there "not just with words, but some commitment to settle the debt".
"We are working flat out to ensure Zimbabwe gets adequate electricity.
"Next week I am going to Mozambique to meet that country's energy minister to discuss power imports," he said.
"What we are getting from Mozambique at the moment (25MW) is definitely not enough; it can best be described as a formality.
"But the main problem is money.
"Last time we chalked up a huge debt that we did not service, resulting in some countries questioning why Mozambique would want to give us electricity when we cannot pay.
"These countries would go and say 'give us power and we pay you in advance'."
Domestic and commercial electricity consumers owe Zesa Holdings about US$550 million, prompting the power utility to embark on large-scale disconnections to force defaulters to pay bills.
Zimbabwe requires about 2 200 megawatts daily, but generates only 1 300MW. The remainder is met through imports from Mozambique, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The country is getting 25MW from Mozambique.
The trip comes on the back of massive load-shedding across Zimbabwe.
Most residents, especially in high-density areas, are going for almost 10 hours per day without power after Mozambique reportedly cut off supplies over a US$76 million debt.
The situation has been worsened by malfunctioning units at Hwange Thermal Power Station and Kariba Hydro-Power Station.
Four units are now up at Hwange while six are operational at Kariba.
Speaking at the Euromoney Conference in Harare last week, Mr Mangoma said he would meet his Mozambican counterpart, Mr Salvador Namburete.
He said he would go there "not just with words, but some commitment to settle the debt".
"We are working flat out to ensure Zimbabwe gets adequate electricity.
"What we are getting from Mozambique at the moment (25MW) is definitely not enough; it can best be described as a formality.
"But the main problem is money.
"Last time we chalked up a huge debt that we did not service, resulting in some countries questioning why Mozambique would want to give us electricity when we cannot pay.
"These countries would go and say 'give us power and we pay you in advance'."
Domestic and commercial electricity consumers owe Zesa Holdings about US$550 million, prompting the power utility to embark on large-scale disconnections to force defaulters to pay bills.
Zimbabwe requires about 2 200 megawatts daily, but generates only 1 300MW. The remainder is met through imports from Mozambique, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The country is getting 25MW from Mozambique.
Source - Byo24News
