Load shedding to end in 2018 - ZESA

A senior Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority official Engineer Patrick Chivaura has claimed that there will be no load shedding in Zimbabwe by 2018.

Chivaura told delegates at the Chamber of Mines Conference in Victoria Falls on Friday that several electricity projects were progressing well and the country was on course to end load-shedding.

"I know you miners want to know when load shedding will end. Well, let me promise you that there will not be load shedding in Zimbabwe by 2018," he is quoted saying.

"Kariba South project is progressing well. The first phase will go online in 2017 and another line will go up in 2018 putting another 150MW. At the moment work is progressing well and there is nothing which points to any delays. Work is being done on strict basis. Some of the tunnels where the equipment will be put have been done," he said.

The country is  facing severe power shortages resulting in major load shedding which has contributed to reduced production.

Local generation capacity at 1 300MW falls far short of the demand of 2200MW which also stands way above the installed capacity of 1900MW.