Zimbabwe exporting electricity

Zimbabwe is contributing a 200-megawatt (MW) electricity surplus to the regional power grid, marking a significant turnaround from years of relying on imports to meet domestic demand, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira has said.

Speaking during an interview on ZBC's Face the Nation programme, Murwira said the country had moved from experiencing electricity deficits to supplying power to neighbouring countries.

"We used to have a deficit, but now we are contributing a surplus of 200MW to the regional grid. Isn't that success?" he said.

His remarks come as ZESA Holdings says Zimbabwe is on course to record a full year without scheduled load-shedding.

ZESA stakeholder relations officer Prisca Utete told State media this week that the country had gone 304 consecutive days without scheduled power cuts and needed another 61 days to reach the one-year milestone, expected around December 27.

Figures from the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) showed that the country was generating approximately 1,384MW as of October 30.

Hwange Thermal Power Station accounted for 919MW, while Kariba South Hydropower Station contributed 415MW. Independent power producers supplied the remaining 50MW.

The improved electricity supply represents a major shift from recent years, when households and businesses endured prolonged power outages, sometimes lasting up to 18 hours a day.

The turnaround has largely been attributed to investments in electricity generation, particularly the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station.

The commissioning of Hwange Units 7 and 8 in 2023 added 600MW to the national grid, helping reduce the country's dependence on electricity imports and improving supply stability.

Government is also pursuing the rehabilitation of Hwange Units 1 to 6, which have experienced frequent breakdowns and operated below their installed generation capacity.